8 replies to this topic

[craig333]

Naming it the Beckworth pack may be clue as to its general vicinity. Hopefully they didn't move towards the fire. As the wolves continue to spread out it may no longer be safe to just assume you saw a coyote. 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

A few months ago we had a male move through Monterey co.

After a few times of reporting his movements haven't heard anymore about him.

Nice to hear they are expanding.

Frank

[cwdtmmrs]

This may be unpopular, but I still don't think that we need wolves in the lower 48. My friend in Montana is a government trapper/shooter and he has had to kill over 1,000 wolves in the last 20 years. And those are just the proven livestock killers.It is a mess.

[Atlin]

Certainly unpopular with me.  I think the livestock industry (particularly cattle) are ruining our public lands and have been for decades.  And the government (that is us, the owners) are subsidizing it by low to non-existent grazing fees along with little to no oversight.  I'd be much happier seeing more wildlife and fewer cow pies.

 

This may be unpopular, but I still don't think that we need wolves in the lower 48. My friend in Montana is a government trapper/shooter and he has had to kill over 1,000 wolves in the last 20 years. And those are just the proven livestock killers.It is a mess.

[rando]

I would also agree that it is crazy that the government was sponsoring the extermination of an entire segment of the western ecosystem at the behest of the livestock industry.  It is very hard to reconcile that the same set of social values that require an EIS to examine whether a particular project with impact wildlife in a tiny area would allow for the wholesale and purposeful slaughter of wolves. 

 

I am glad to see the reintroduction of wolves in the west, and even happier to see that once they aren't being systematically exterminated, they are doing a pretty good job of reintroducing themselves without our help.   Lets hope that we can keep the wild in wilderness. 

Edited by rando, 10 July 2021 - 02:48 PM.

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Rando and Atlin, thanks for the comments.

Agree here also.

Didn't hear much about the male that roamed

our area although there are livestock ranchers in

the south part of the county nothing from them.

I think the news was kept to a minimum.

Frank

[cwdtmmrs]

Certainly unpopular with me.  I think the livestock industry (particularly cattle) are ruining our public lands and have been for decades.  And the government (that is us, the owners) are subsidizing it by low to non-existent grazing fees along with little to no oversight.  I'd be much happier seeing more wildlife and fewer cow pies.

I didn't think it would be popular. Government subsidies are a different subject ( I assume you don't eat beef). My friend's area is SW Montana and mostly private land. The elk population in Yellowstone and surrounding area has been decimated as well. It is a complicated subject, but every time humans try to "fix" things, it usually doesn't work.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I suggest that assertions such as “elk populations decimated” include unbiased reporting/citations to support those assertions.  From my reading elk populations are down, but not decimated.   Also down is chronic over grazing in natural areas  What’s up are things like improved riparian habitat and the fauna that relies on it.  It is my belief that balance in nature is returning.

 

https://www.yellowst...nges-ecosystem/

 

https://www.nps.gov/...restoration.htm

 

https://www.national...ilize-ecosystem

 

Mike Finley, was the Superintendent of Yellowstone at the time on reintroduction and is former chair of the Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife, and was a year ahead of me in school.  Everything I have heard or read from him is very positive about the reintroduction.

 

I currently live in cattle country where beef is big business. Yes, we have wolves, and yes we lose a few head of cattle.  When predators are around, there are going to be some losses.  I haven’t seen a wolf here yet, but we have cougars and bears (near the house) who take game, and I suspect some livestock are also taken by them.  As an aside, I frequently have elk near or in my yard.

[Taku]

Well, if you look at the hunting districts in what I would call SW MT (the "300" numbered - I think there are 46 districts) only 4 districts are given a below average for population (2020 date). This data includes the Northern Yellowstone area.  FWP studies have also found in the Bitterroot that mountain lions were the biggest predator on elk.