Posted on 11/24/2007 6:50:43 PM PST by george76
PRAY - For rancher Randy Petrich, the removal of gray wolves from the endangered-species list - a move that would open up the animals to hunting in the Northern Rockies for the first time in decades - couldn't come soon enough.
Petrich has seen fresh wolf tracks almost every morning this fall - close enough to threaten his cattle.
"I believe that any wolf on any given night, if there happens to be a calf there, they will kill it," ...
Just 12 years since the wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park ... federal officials say the sharp rise in the wolf population in the region justifies removing them from the endangered species list.
It took $24 million of federal funds and more than two decades to bring wolves back ...
After years of debate, an initial 66 wolves were transplanted into the park from Canada beginning in 1995. Now, an estimated 1,545 roam Idaho, Montana and Wyoming - more than enough, federal official say, to justify removing them from the endangered-species list.
"The more of something you have, the less valuable each individual piece becomes," said Ed Bangs, the Fish and Wildlife Service's wolf recovery project leader. "If you have more wolves than you have now, it's really going to start causing a lot of problems."
David Mech, a University of Minnesota researcher considered one of the world's leading experts on wolf behavior, predicted populations in the Northern Rockies could hold steady or keep expanding, even with hunting permitted...
Since reintroduction, wolf numbers have increased 20 percent to 30 percent a year as the animals thrived in a habitat flush with elk, moose and other prey. Even where entire packs were taken out to curb livestock kills, new packs have quickly filled the gap.
(Excerpt) Read more at billingsgazette.net ...
Liberals think that food comes from a box or a can.
They have no concept that someone gets up early to work long hours on a farm or a ranch...
For all practical purposes, unless there is a video of the “nice wolfie” killing the livestock, Defebders won’t pay.
Defenders is another socialism impaired division of GangGreen.
I never handled either, but have read that handling them in the past was difficult. They are basically wild animals, potentially aggressive, and larger and stronger than beef cattle. Those are the negatives.
But today, we have better methods of handling them, they can take care of themselves, they are far better adapted to survival on the plains, and the meat they produce is better for human consumption.
As a matter of fact, I remember reading somewhere that the old Texas Longhorns produced a beef that was lower in cholesterol and fat, were capable of surviving on rougher forage, were better at survival on the plains, and were abandoned as a primary source of meat as moving them by railroad was more difficult and people had acquired a fondness for the fatter, more domesticated beef cattle.
“Liberals think that food comes from a box or a can.
They have no concept that someone gets up early to work long hours on a farm or a ranch...”
Which is why I no longer belong to any liberal controlled save the fish or critter association like: Cal Trout, Oregon Trout, Trout Unlimited, Save the Stripers, Save our Rivers and on down the list.
These elite fly fishers don’t want any dams and just want water for their Fish Gods. Their goals are $crew the farmer, rancher, logger and anyone who makes an honest living using water and electricity.
You got that right GD. I even have my doubts about DU but they still seem to represent real duck hunters...
Well, it is about flavor, and tenderness. The more fat that is marbled in the meat, the more flavor, and the more tender it is. Lean meats(venison comes to mind) are usually tougher.
I’ve handled, and still do, cattle. That can be a rodeo all by itself. One fellow I know had buffalo, and their corrals were made out of steel guard rail.
Bottom line, if there isn’t a big, ready market for it, as there is for beef, a fellow would be taking a big chance, and expense, going to buffalo. Currently, it’s more of a niche market.
What about longhorns or Scottich Highland Cattle?
Don’t recall seeing a “Wolves Not Allowed” sticker on those breeds; I’m also sure they eat feed and aren’t fireproof either.
What we really need is a cow that drops calves that are market weight, so all we have to do is get ‘em walking and put ‘em in the truck. I’ll get on that as soon as I finish counting all my money....
Another suggestion I’ve heard as treatment for the wolves is Claymores, but some folks might put a couple on their front porch for the next visit by Gubmint men.
(....gotta keep smilin’. Granddaughter calls me by my full first name instead of “Papa” when I get grumpy, and I don’t like the sour stomach anyway.)
Well, let’s see. Nah. If they are full grown when born we’ll be pulling calves and turning momma cows inside out all day long. Hows about inflatable calves? They come out normal size. While putting the lasticator band on them, etc pull the lanyard and step back. They expand like a life raft.
...okay, but my idea gets the old cow out of the shed and on her way to rendering along with the calf, so we wind up with NOTHING out in the pasture. (Except maybe some Claymores and wolf carcasses.)
OTOH, we could really save some transportation costs if we bred inflatable cows and only popped the suckers when we unloaded ‘em at the yard.
(Gotta stop this silliness and get back to work......good grins, though.)
I’m pretty much divided on this. I like the fact wolves have been saved from extinction...but I understand the ranchers concerns.
American Bison are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves with regards to wolves or weather and don’t need special forage. Wolves could probably pick off a weakened or old animal or a young calf unlucky enough to get separated from the main herd. But I wouldn’t want to be the wolf that got in the way of an angry buffalo in good condition, especially if it had back-up.
Texas Longhorns are a lot tougher than commercial beef cattle and probably would give a wolf a run for its money.
Both Texas Longhorns and Scottish Highland cattle are hardier than commercial beefs and more tolerant of adverse weather conditions.
At any rate, I love Buffalo meat, and would more than happy to bag one for myself one day.
These Canadian wolves are imported and expanding at over 20 percent per year.
The feds put the wolves into Yellowstone knowing that they would spread across the country.
It is the small, family ranchers who are going extinct. At their bankruptcy sale, Ted Turner and friends will buy up the former working ranch to build a luxury lodge for his Hollywood friends to visit.
Then your food will be raised in feed lots, full of growth hormones and lots of other drugs.
The family ranchers just want the right to defend themselves from extinction.
I understand all that you wrote.
“They should look into dogs to help guard their herds.
“
Defenders of Wildlife has been paying ranchers for lost livestock, when proven to be a wolf kill for years. And as I recall, wolves that kill livestock are subject to execution.
Lie. Ranchers are rarely paid. And when they are it is a long time before any money comes in.
This was a marketing tool used to convince the American public that the wolf-program would not have a financial impact on the local economies.
Truth is the money spent per-wolf is far more than anyone has gotten for the dead stock.
Also, Wolves are only killed if the rancher is there when it happens.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.