Posted on 08/02/2005 4:24:20 PM PDT by kerryusama04
The problem: elk chewing the bejeebers out of Rocky Mountain National Park.
One solution: adding a pack of wolves to the park.
Another problem: wolves wandering into nearby Boulder and Loveland, Colo.
Still, the National Park Service is slated this week to propose, as one alternative, adding a pack of wolves, outfitted with radio collars, to chase the elk herds ravaging the park's aspen and willow stands.
Biologists already have warned that keeping wolves in the 226,000-acre park may be next to impossible.
"I can't conceive of a way to keep wolves in the park," said University of Minnesota biologist and wolf expert David Mech. "I just don't know how one would do that."
Park Service authorities concede the idea is controversial. "One biologist told us, 'If you do this, prepare to have your world turned upside down,' " said Therese Johnson, a park management biologist.
Wolves were successfully reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, but Yellowstone is almost 10 times larger than Colorado's Rocky Mountain.
"You can't keep them from going," said Michael Phillips, who headed the Yellowstone red wolf program. "The question is will they stay in the park long enough to have an impact on the elk herd?"
Wolves have been known to wander 500 miles in search of a home. Estes Park is just outside the park, and Boulder, Loveland and some Denver suburbs are about 50 miles away.
Park authorities stress that they are not trying to reintroduce wolves to Colorado and are using the predators only as a wildlife management tool.
Under the park service's wolf alternative, only a few wolves would be released in the rugged terrain. The animals would be under constant surveillance and would be trapped and returned to the park if they left.
Sharpshooters also would be employed to bring the elk down from 3,000 animals to between 1,200 and 2,100.
Details of the proposals are scheduled to be released this week.
The service, however, can't seem to please anyone. Boulder-based Sinapu, an advocate of returning wolves to Colorado, also is criticizing the plan.
"Wolves are not a tool," Sinapu spokesman Rob Edward said. "We should not be treating them as some sort of pest-control device."
I will be more than happy to help out with the Elk problem.
My freezer is getting empty!!!!
I have a better idea. How about adding a pack of sportsmen outfitted with rifles?
Elk ping
Within earshot of the tender, sensitive citizens of Boulder, CO? Surely you jest?
Exactly.
Gummint employees can't seem to grasp the obvious.
I wonder if they will get some lions to help them get rid of the wolves?
"Wolves were successfully reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming"
That is a matter of opinion. I know many who believe they have successfully survived but they have caused a whole lot of problems for the rancers even 150 miles from Yellowstone. Also, the elk herds and moose populations are diminishing rapidly. Biologists say it is because of drought. Wolf populations are greatly expanding. Makes one wonder.
Downtown Boulder is where they should be introducing wolves.
Why can't they do the revenue thing and sell elk tags for $250 a piece? (just a number, don't panic)
Can you make boots out of elk hide? hmmmm....
In a couple months I'm going to be doing my part to help solve the 'elk problem' here in AZ. Of the 9 members of my extended family that put in for tags, 7 of us got drawn. Gonna be quite a week!
rancers=ranchers!
I don't know about that. Will these wolves be certified? Do they all have PHD's in animal husbandry. How do we know if they are truly educated enough to make good judgement calls.
Eventually, they ought to go with killer whales...orcas. At least they are trainable.
Silly you say? That's what they told Columbus. Ted Columbus. Right before he stuck his head in the microwave to prove that it would work faster than a blow dryer, and prove it he did.
If they want to quickly thin the elk herd they would do well to send about 5 - 10 Louisiana Cajuns and tell them Elk hunting is illegal.....
Why not just re-introduce some Bengal Tigers into the Rockies. They are just as indiginous to the US Rockies as the Canadian wolves the enviro-nuts have been turning loose.
Maybe they could get some Lions, Moose, Eagles and Oddfellows to bore them to death with their rituals.
Or Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton and the Raccoons.
If they're going to put radio collars on them, how about abig electronic fence? If it works with wolves, it can be tried on Mexicans next - except for them the electronic bracelets for home arrest could be used.
Wild pigs, otoh, are a problem in this neck of the National Park system.
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