Yeah, wolves aren't dangerous...........

[draperjojo]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100312/us_ ... laska_wolf

Now, why anyone would wander around Alaska without a .44 mag on their side is beyond me.......she should have been wearing her "Defender of Widlife" jacket I guess. Its a real shame. I be up there deactivating those critters every chance I had if I lived in Alaska.

[JReed]

The comments are enough to make me sick.

[BigSky56]

This last summer the US F&G destroyed a wolf in yellowstone park that was attacking bicycle riders. If dogs attack people what makes people think that a wolf or coyote wouldnt. danny

[shooter]

The comments are unbelievable. It just blows my mind how people think these days, and how ignorant they are.

[madman4570]

The kids are only partly to blame,it tells me that the parents raising them were clueless as well as the press being so anti Hunting/Shooting etc.

Usually on stuff like this some kid acting like a idiot, is probably because the parents were the same.

Takes all kinds.

Just wondering if the Lady maybe had a heart attack/died and was consumed after????????
But I also am sure there is a good chance the wolves got her just running????????
A Shame!

[Bigahh]

I simply cannot believe the comments some of those people made. Wonder how they would feel if the Woman who was attacked was their Mother, Sister, Daughter...... Bet their tune would change a bit.

[piller]

I have worked with someone who thinks the same way as the commenters. There is none so blind as he who refuses to see.

[FWiedner]

The wolves were probably just trying to get her to stop because she dropped something, and then she tripped and fell into their teeth...

[shooter]

I'm not for the eradication of any species....well, except for mosquitos and chiggers, but I do think there should be consideration as to where these things are reintroduced. They should also have less restrictions on where and when you can shoot them. It's a real problem when they start endangering peoples' livelihood, or their lives for that matter, and they should be dealt with accordingly. I've always thought wolves were beautiful and fascinating creatures. Also ruthless, efficient killing machines that can pose a problem when too close to people or livestock. I think a lot of critters are pretty, but I still don't hesitate to put a bullet right through them when need be.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
It does not matter WHERE preditors are RE-INTRODUCED. They were eradicated BECAUSE they are preditors that will migrate to where ever they can find easy pickings. This includes domestic animals and humans.
If they are not hunted they will overpopulate their habitat. Then it is only time until they are back where they as preditors start eating whatever pet or human comes to close.
Ask the bow hunters in the Danville area of the state of ILL about cougars and black panthers. The state of ILL released them in the Kikapoo state park to control the deer population. Now big cats are circling homes on Shake Rag Road 15 miles away eating the cats and dogs.
A preditor is a eating machine and that is what they do very efficiently. Sadly it will take the deaths of many people before VOTERS realize our elected officials are nothing but preditors of another type. If nothing else Professional Hunters will get the opportunity to make some BIG bucks slinking through the bushes and erradicating the dumb decision of our so called Wildlife Specialists.

[El Chivo]

anyone see the article in American Hunter about a Canadian singer killed by coyotes while out hiking?

Boys you need to get out and do some shooting.

[bigbore442001]

I saw that tidbit of news. Too bad it isn't on national news to illustrate to people that wolves aren't this mystical creature that the far left worship. Looks like someone needs to get out the aircraft cable snares.

[bdhold]

The comments are unbelievable. It just blows my mind how people think these days, and how ignorant they are.

It's the The Man attitude that grew from the 60s. Before then, children with that much suspicion of authority were sent to psychiatrists. Now, it's the norm - it's even cultivated in their schools, and is in the total output of Hollywood - the authority figures are always evil.

[redhawk]

It seems that idiocy will never be eradicated from the earth, and some of those comments prove it. I met a pastor from Alaska who told me it was dumb to travel anywhere there armed with anything less than a 44mag, even in town. Even bears are known to make it into town. It seems to me to be a foolhardy thing to know there is a possible threat and not be prepared for it in some manner.

[O.S.O.K.]

I am by no means "anti wolf", but I believe that reintroducing them in ranges where domestic livestock is present is just flat out stupid and totally inconsiderate of the ranchers. Yellowstone may not be ranched but its surrounded by ranches and so the reintro should never have been done IMHO.

I have no problem with them existing in Alaska though. If they become a problem in a populated area, they need to be terminated. And anyone traveling in Alaska needs to be armed and ready to handle the local preditors.

The poor woman is a victim of her own naivete.

[Hobie]

A sad thing. If she was running she simply excited their natural tendency to run down anything that runs. Fido does it, too.

[madman4570]

A human running around alone in remote sections in Anchorage, Alaska without a weapon borders on the edge of insanity??

[MrMurphy]

In college i sold computer parts all over the country by phone. My first customer was in Wasilla.

the girl who took the orders (secretary type) for the computer store had previously worked on a commercial fishing boat. She said the minimum "walking around" gun off the boat was a .44 Mag and if there was more than one person, someone always had a 12ga with slugs handy.

Even in Wasilla she kept a .357 around.

[brno602]

The Coyote attack and killing of the Girl in P.E.I last year out hiking by herself, the wolf killing the women in Alaska out Jogging. We had a women killed by a Cougar in Banff a few years ago out Sking by herself and another by a Grizz just East of there out Jogging.
Are they nut's to go out alone what about all the two legged Varmints out in the woods

[76/444]

......................WANTED......................
..................DEAD OR DEADER...............
...............ANYWHERE...ANYTIME............

......................WOLVES.......................

[homefront]

What's a wolf pelt go for these days?

[Ysabel Kid]

The comments are enough to make me sick.

+1. Geez...

[prebans]

My reply under an assumed name, and some of you may disagree with me:

Okay, let's think about this for a second.

Wolves are natural PREDATORS. I suspect some people don't like that, but it's reality. Another reality is that wolves are CARNIVORES. They are not algae eating fish, they are not grass or shrub eating deer, and they certainly are not seed and worm eating song birds. Furthermore, wolves are opportunistic eaters; they'll dine on large animals like bison or moose, small animals like rabbits, and they'll eat carrion (already-dead animal carcasses) and even garbage. In addition, wolves are cannibals and will eat other wolves during lean times, will eat the loser in a territorial dispute, and they will eat the dead from their own pack. (Don't believe me or just disgusted? Check out Wikipedia.)

So, wolves are cute and fluffy things that remind us of our domestic dogs. But they're WILD ANIMALS whose job, as per Mother Nature, is being a carniverous predator that's not picky about its dinner.

So here we go, wandering through the woods without any dog defense spray, much less a firearm. (For those who don't like hunting or couldn't imagine shooting another living creature, just firing off a loud gun will scare off most wolves. Dogs have GREAT hearing and HATE loud noises.) And while attacks on humans are rare, "rare" does not mean "never." Common sense dictates that we wear gloves when handling hot pots and pans, shoes when we're outside, and coats when its cold. Why do we abandon our common sense when wandering through the woods, ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE ALASKA?

It's great to see wolves introduced. They are a part of the natural ecosystem. However, I am absolutely disgusted by the twaddle pushed by naive and ignorant fools who claim that nature is always a friendly, happy thing with chirping birds and smiling bears around every corner. Just because nature is a GOOD THING does NOT mean that it's a SAFE THING. Does this mean that nature must be controlled, paved over, and anything remotely dangerous be shot on sight? NO. That's just as ignorant and backward as those who insist that nature is always shiny and happy.

People, get real. The middle way - that wolves are good for nature but should be treated with GREAT CAUTION as the wild animals that they are - is the right answer. Nobody here would dive in shark-infested waters without shark repellent, a protective divers cage, or a bang stick. Why would we wander through an area full of wolves (and bears) without taking similar precautions?

Mike

[Joel]

Lightening kills far more Americans than wolves bears, cougars and coyotes ever will. It happens, but hardly ever. We are far more likely to be killed on the way to the gunshop by old people or teenagers driving.

[Bigahh]

Quite a few of you are assuming she did not have some kind of protection with her, and that may or may not be the case. If she was jogging, she could easily have been taken from behind without much chance. Not probable, but not impossible either. A Wolf pack can act extremely fast without much chance. Pepper spray would probably be better than a gun if you have to act without much warning.

[Joel]

My reply under an assumed name, and some of you may disagree with me:

Okay, let's think about this for a second.

Wolves are natural PREDATORS. I suspect some people don't like that, but it's reality. Another reality is that wolves are CARNIVORES. They are not algae eating fish, they are not grass or shrub eating deer, and they certainly are not seed and worm eating song birds. Furthermore, wolves are opportunistic eaters; they'll dine on large animals like bison or moose, small animals like rabbits, and they'll eat carrion (already-dead animal carcasses) and even garbage. In addition, wolves are cannibals and will eat other wolves during lean times, will eat the loser in a territorial dispute, and they will eat the dead from their own pack. (Don't believe me or just disgusted? Check out Wikipedia.)

So, wolves are cute and fluffy things that remind us of our domestic dogs. But they're WILD ANIMALS whose job, as per Mother Nature, is being a carniverous predator that's not picky about its dinner.

So here we go, wandering through the woods without any dog defense spray, much less a firearm. (For those who don't like hunting or couldn't imagine shooting another living creature, just firing off a loud gun will scare off most wolves. Dogs have GREAT hearing and HATE loud noises.) And while attacks on humans are rare, "rare" does not mean "never." Common sense dictates that we wear gloves when handling hot pots and pans, shoes when we're outside, and coats when its cold. Why do we abandon our common sense when wandering through the woods, ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE ALASKA?

It's great to see wolves introduced. They are a part of the natural ecosystem. However, I am absolutely disgusted by the twaddle pushed by naive and ignorant fools who claim that nature is always a friendly, happy thing with chirping birds and smiling bears around every corner. Just because nature is a GOOD THING does NOT mean that it's a SAFE THING. Does this mean that nature must be controlled, paved over, and anything remotely dangerous be shot on sight? NO. That's just as ignorant and backward as those who insist that nature is always shiny and happy.

People, get real. The middle way - that wolves are good for nature but should be treated with GREAT CAUTION as the wild animals that they are - is the right answer. Nobody here would dive in shark-infested waters without shark repellent, a protective divers cage, or a bang stick. Why would we wander through an area full of wolves (and bears) without taking similar precautions?

Mike

I dive for abalone off the norcal coast every year, as shark infested as it gets. Nobody I know uses any of that stuff you mentioned. I guy I know was killed a few years back, but thats the risk we take. A very small risk.

[winchester1886]

If she was killed by wolves and the official report was she was mauled to death by an animal, she is only the second person to be killed by wolves in Alaska that the police have investigated since 1940. You are more likely to be killed by a member of your own family.

[FWiedner]

... unless you were raised by wolves...

[Malamute]

There's a couple of comments that beg response.

The odds of being hurt by wildlife of any sort compared to lightening isnt very meaningful, when you're one of those that spend time where the sharp edged animals live. Neither is the comment about being in more danger from a family member. As for the "only 2nd investigated wolf death since..." that doesnt mean much to me. It's impossible to investigate what hapens in the bush with nobody around. I don't for one second beieve that those 2 are the only ones. That said, I don't believe wolves ( or grizzlies or Mt Lions) are EVIL or that they should be shot on sight, just kept in perspective. They rarely do, but can be dangerous. If one decides to go out in country where they live without protection, that is a choice you can make, but you shouldnt be too surprised if something does happen. If one is happy going about unprepared and unprotected, I have no problem with that, just dont expect much sympathy from me if something does happen to you or yours. Perhaps sympathy for yours, because they were counting on you to watch over and protect them, but not much sympathy the individual that makes that choice. That is what most call "head in the sand" attitude. No offense meant, just realize how many others see your choice if thats what it is. Same as if you decided to go golfing in a thunderstorm. It's never happend to you before, or anyone else on your course, so why not go? Nothing's going to happen. Well, it's about the odds. The odds are low, but if you go under certain circumstances, the odds go up. To reduce the odds of being struck by lightening, not going out golfing in a thunderstorm seems reasonable. Not going out in country that has large predators in it unarmed and unprepared is a way to reduce the odds of anything bad happening to you and yours. Unlike lightening and thunderstorms, there isnt a good way to know "what the weathers like" regarding animals in the hills. They live there 24/7, and they're rather good at what they do. They do it for a living.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

[Joel]

There's a couple of comments that beg response.

The odds of being hurt by wildlife of any sort compared to lightening isnt very meaningful, when you're one of those that spend time where the sharp edged animals live. Neither is the comment about being in more danger from a family member. As for the "only 2nd investigated wolf death since..." that doesnt mean much to me. It's impossible to investigate what hapens in the bush with nobody around. I don't for one second beieve that those 2 are the only ones. That said, I don't believe wolves ( or grizzlies or Mt Lions) are EVIL or that they should be shot on sight, just kept in perspective. They rarely do, but can be dangerous. If one decides to go out in country where they live without protection, that is a choice you can make, but you shouldnt be too surprised if something does happen. If one is happy going about unprepared and unprotected, I have no problem with that, just dont expect much sympathy from me if something does happen to you or yours. Perhaps sympathy for yours, because they were counting on you to watch over and protect them, but not much sympathy the individual that makes that choice. That is what most call "head in the sand" attitude. No offense meant, just realize how many others see your choice if thats what it is. Same as if you decided to go golfing in a thunderstorm. It's never happend to you before, or anyone else on your course, so why not go? Nothing's going to happen. Well, it's about the odds. The odds are low, but if you go under certain circumstances, the odds go up. To reduce the odds of being struck by lightening, not going out golfing in a thunderstorm seems reasonable. Not going out in country that has large predators in it unarmed and unprepared is a way to reduce the odds of anything bad happening to you and yours. Unlike lightening and thunderstorms, there isnt a good way to know "what the weathers like" regarding animals in the hills. They live there 24/7, and they're rather good at what they do. They do it for a living.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

Yellowstone park has a healthy population of animals that can put a hurt on soft skinned humans, and yet, even though millions of unarmed tourists and fishermen flood the park and hike through it unarmed every year, nobody is getting eaten. I would bet a at least a few die in car crashes on the way there though.

I am probably one of the few people who know two people actually killed by wild animals; Randy Fry was killed by a Great White while diving abalone off of Fort Bragg, Barbara Schoener was killed by a cougar while jogging in the American River canyon near Cool California. I also know more than ten people killed in car accidents, but I still drive all over the place, and I even forget to wear my seatbelt from time to time.

[Streetstar]

Quite a few of you are assuming she did not have some kind of protection with her, and that may or may not be the case. If she was jogging, she could easily have been taken from behind without much chance. Not probable, but not impossible either. A Wolf pack can act extremely fast without much chance. Pepper spray would probably be better than a gun if you have to act without much warning.

Yep, i am an avid mountain biker when i am home --- and the widespread use of I-pods and things i see also would make it much easier to be taken by surprise

I am not suggesting this happened to this young lady, but look around at the joggers some day --- 75% that i see when i am out are sporting an I-pod . (me too --- but my chances of encountering anything like a wolf or cougar in my area is minuscule --- skunks and whitetail is what i usually run across)

[n2t]

Personaly I'm much more fearfull of being killed by a giant snake than by a wolf. I understand managing them, but I just have no fear/hated of the animals.

[Buck Elliott]

One of the reasons there are not MORE people attacked and killed by large predators in the Intermountain West, is because we tend to go armed and alert into the back country, knowing what the risks are, but NEVER knowing when our number will come up on the board...

Attacks -- without a human being killed -- are increasing in number, with charges and bluff charges on a steady rise.

When analyzing the data statistically, you have to figure it per capita... that is, incidents relative to the number of people involved in activities in a given area or pursuit. That will give a better picture of the actual risk involved. Even in Cody, there are fewer folks out in the hills, beyond road's end than there may be on the golf links in the Summer.

[El Chivo]

plus there's something about being torn limb from limb that is disagreeable to me

[draperjojo]

My 44mag would have asked this question........"So wolf pack.......you feelin lucky?????"

[ndcowboy]

In college i sold computer parts all over the country by phone. My first customer was in Wasilla.

the girl who took the orders (secretary type) for the computer store had previously worked on a commercial fishing boat. She said the minimum "walking around" gun off the boat was a .44 Mag and if there was more than one person, someone always had a 12ga with slugs handy.

Even in Wasilla she kept a .357 around.

I did my student teaching in Nenana, and worked in the student boarding house at night to pay for my board. When I had to take the garbage out a 2 a.m., there was a pretty big chill down my spine as bears were known to come dig through the dumpster at night.
There was also a day when we had to keep the kids in school an extra half hour because there was a bear walking down the road between the school and the student housing.
Basically, everything, everywhere is wild in Alaska.

[76/444]

Personaly I'm much more fearfull of being killed by a giant snake than by a wolf. I understand managing them, but I just have no fear/hated of the animals.

I have never hated anything I have ever killed.

Feared?

Yes,... some!

Hated?

No!

[Lawyer Daggit]

I cannot get over the insensitivity and ignorance of those responding to the original news item.

The educational system in the US is obviously severely floored (as it is here in Australia).

Here we have laws that prevent one from killing any snakes (inc dangerous species- which most Australian snakes are) and someone is supposed to catch the snake and resettle it. Usually common sense is applied and the letter of the law ignored.

A friend of mine was involved in a working bee at his child's school. They were assembling playground equipment in the playground. He spotted a tiger snake- a very aggressive and highly poisonous species. He called out for someone to bring him a shovel so he could deal with the snake.

A very politically correct teacher said 'you cannot kill that snake it is protected'.

He responded to the teacher - how long have you lived in country Australia lady (knowing she had recently moved from the city)... I would learn to keep my mouth shut if I were you'.

I think he summed up the sentiments of most country residents in Australia, and she, the sentiments of many young city people.

[Lawyer Daggit]

I cannot get over the insensitivity and ignorance of those responding to the original news item.

The educational system in the US is obviously severely floored (as it is here in Australia).

Here we have laws that prevent one from killing any snakes (inc dangerous species- which most Australian snakes are) and someone is supposed to catch the snake and resettle it. Usually common sense is applied and the letter of the law ignored.

A friend of mine was involved in a working bee at his child's school. They were assembling playground equipment in the playground. He spotted a tiger snake- a very aggressive and highly poisonous species. He called out for someone to bring him a shovel so he could deal with the snake.

A very politically correct teacher said 'you cannot kill that snake it is protected'.

He responded to the teacher - how long have you lived in country Australia lady (knowing she had recently moved from the city)... I would learn to keep my mouth shut if I were you'.

I think he summed up the sentiments of most country residents in Australia, and she, the sentiments of many young city people.

[Jimbo]

Well if the tree huggers are so excited about re-introducing wolves, why didn't they do it in central park? They should have the opportunity to enjoy the cute puppies too! Nobody in Wyoming, Montana or Idaho wanted wolves back in Yellowstone, and now they've spread like the vermin they are. Within 10 years they will probably exterminate the moose, and are reducing deer and elk numbers dramatically. Pretty soon all we'll have to shoot at will be wolves because they're out of "wild" game to eat. And the tree huggers still aren't happy.

[Buck Elliott]

"Lightning" doesn't travel in packs, nor does it "stalk" its victims...

Besides, the question is NOT about wolves, per se... it's a matter of control. Wolves just happened to be a recognizeable, marketable tool in the hands of the control Nazis.

[76/444]

On the money!,... thanx, Buck! Nothing like a dose of truthful reality to shut down a thread of off target opinions! The wolf problem is a political problem, plain and simple. All conversations addressing any other aspect ,... just allows the environmentalists to sit back and laugh!

[Wes]

Well put Buck Elliot.

Like I've said many times before (here and other places) keeping the wolves inside the expanded (as proposed by the state of Wy) Yellowstone ecosystem is more than generous and will keep plenty of wolves in JellyStone Park for almost no one to see.

I was in the Du Noir a few years back (grizzly bear's aplenty) and had taken my 10 yr old son with me. We came up on a pack of wolves eating what was left of a spike elk. There were 7 wolves and if I remember right 5 of them were black. Of course they moved off as we rode into that park, we camped a half mile from that kill sight and thought we'd sneak back and watch them for a bit after we got camp set up and horses and mules took care of.
We sat on a little hill overlooking the carcass for a while and no wolves. Just before dark we heard a noise behind us about 50 yards in the timber. Just a 'Woof' kind of noise. Then another and another. They'd circled behind us and were scattered out in the timber I think trying to get us to leave. Definitely worked. Got my rearend out of there and back to camp. My son Logan was plenty spooked as was his old man.
Now these wolves didn't make anything but threatening noise at us but neither were they going to leave and they were pretty bold toward us humans. It was enough to get our attention and nobody slept well with a wolf pack that close to camp.
I wouldn't want to bet my life that a wolf pack wouldn't attack a human. Neither would I venture anywhere unarmed if wolves were around. We had my guide gun and a 45 LC Ruger pistol. I also ran a hot wire around camp and the horse/mules high line.

[76/444]

Yup ,... mess'n with a wolf pack's kill can sure get hairy!!! Not one of my favorite pass time events. Just think how protective they would have been if you had decided to observe even closer?

[Chas.]

I also ran a hot wire around camp and the horse/mules high line.

OK. I'll ask. What is a hot wire? Did you take a fence charger with you? Not ever having lived in wolf country, you piqued my curiosity.

[Buck Elliott]

Yup... If there are no appropriate bushes available, You just drag the cord over to the nearest creek, and plug it into the current...

Solar power and a small battery pack, my friend...

[Wes]

I've seen the solar powered ones but I went cheap and got one that runs on D cell batteries. Works good. I actually had it for just grazing my saddle and pack animals but started putting it around camp at night in the grizzly country. I can't swear that it works but have not had Mr. Grizz in my camp since I started doing that. Figured it might keep wolves out too.

Couldn't find a currant (current) bush up there Buck.