Hunting wolves?

Isn't it weird that an animal so closely related to "man's best friend" has been so universally hated and reviled throughout history? I've always wondered how that could be.

We have the "big bad wolf" ... the "wolf at the door" ... a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

My theory is that this attitude first developed in Europe in the Middle Ages. There were terrible epidemics of rabies in wild wolf populations at that time, and it definitely made sense to avoid wolves, even to kill as many of them as you could.

I wonder if the negative attitude developed back then has persisted until recent times.

 

I believe the negative attitude towards wolves, otherwise known as the "Little Red Riding Hood Syndrome", persists for the simple fact that an individual person may be smart, but on the flip side, "people" are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and the most cruely lethal species this planet has ever experienced.

I truly think the only solution is through education, but sadly this will only work on those who are willing to listen and learn.

I am not certain if it is allowed by this website, but here are a couple of internet links related to the subject which may enlighten the uninformed or misinformed who might stumble upon this thread and be in possession of an open mind.

If anyone out there should have any extra cash laying around, this particular wolf sanctuary in southern Oregon is a worthy candidate for any and all donations:

http://www.howlingacres.org/fact_vs__myth2.html

Also, here is a very cool tune called "Little Red Riding Hood" by 'Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs' which I hope might lighten the mood of this subject and enlighten at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdVVLbe1rfY

It is important to note that even bad wolves can be good...

With Peace and Blessings for all living things on this beautiful earth...

 

Mankind continues to "fix" "problems" without understanding what they are doing, kind of like stopping an alarm clock from ringing by hitting it with a hammer, yes it stops ringing but then the clock does work anymore.

Likewise mankind has tried to fix the Earth but now, it's not working very well either. Wolves are just a symptom of the larger problems mankind has made.

 

And the thing is ... this problem was being fixed! Wolves were making a beautiful comeback. They were doing fine ... no conflicts with human populations to speak of. But there is an irrational hatred and fear of them, not to mention the hunters' obsession with mounting as many heads on their walls as they possibly can.

It's so sad. I lived in Idaho for 20 years. We used to joke ironically that the state motto was "if it moves, shoot it ... if it doesn't move, tear it up with your ATV."

I think it's beyond their comprehension just to let something live.

 

I have been to Idaho on several occasions from the Twin Falls area, up to the Canadian border and have never ceased to be amazed at the ignorance of a majority of the states' inhabitants.

Personally, I think the smartest living things in this particular state are the Bears, Cougars, Wolves, Coyotes, Rockchucks...or all the volcanic rocks too.

In the end, mankind will pay dearly for his arrogant attempt to control the natural world.

 

That's true, but you could say the same about, oh, right around 49 other states. Just a rough estimate.

 

I must completely agree with your assessment--yet most sadly, this inherent ignorance extends far beyond the borders of the United States.

 

Shameless heifer claims to be from Texas, and worried sick about wolf predation on her livestock. I didn't know wolves were that big in Texas. There might be a few around, and there are probably plenty of coyotes.
Shameless heifer, do you have any sources or figures on wolf predation in Texas?

We have wolves here in Alberta, and there could be some wolf predation on livestock in the East Slopes areas, but I haven't seen it as an issue in the press. From the camper's perspective, I'm more worried about bears and cougars, although I did have a narrow miss when a moose attacked my dog at 4 AM. (My dog was in my tent at the time.)
I think there is a case to be made for issuing a wolf hunting permit to someone who owns livestock and can prove residency in a known wolf predation area, but not otherwise. Are there 10,700 Idaho stockmen who are in a known wolf predation area?
There are a whole lot of urban cowboys out there who like to prove their alleged manhood by shooting anything that moves.

Actually, it's not just men. There's something called the Hunting Channel on cable TV. Some time ago I saw a young lady (on the channel) climb out of a $30,000 four wheel drive truck, go out into the bush and draw a bead on a wild turkey with a modern compound crossbow probably worth $1,000, and kill it dead. She had a big smile on her face at this great achievement.

 

I think even we would have an antagonistic view of dogs if they were to surround you with bubbling mouths, teeth-bare.

 

I consider wolves to be cool creatures.

 

Being that most wouldn't eat wolf, it's just killing for the sake of killing. Shamefull. Consider this:
"What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone man would die from a great loneliness of the spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." Chief Seattle 1854

 

That's cool, but why would Chief Seattle's parents name him after a city?

 

Actually the city was named after him. His tribe was from the Puget Sound area I think. I like how they respected nature and wildlife.

 

It's sick that we the people who kill these beautiful creatures have some heightened sense of fulfillment when they they do so. Something in them tells them that they are superior- I think that's no different than killing a human.

 

Sometimes I think it's worse. ALL wolves perform a service by removing weak, sick or genetically defective animals from the breeding pool. Human hunters usually strive for just the opposite, they go after the biggest and best, effectively leaving the less desirable animals to breed.

 

I was joking.

 

:smilielol5:

 

Many are dedicated predator hunters who are eager to match wits with this ultimate predator. Others bought the tag just to frame it, but most are outdoorsmen who want that tag in their pocket hoping for a chance encounter that will give them an opportunity to bring the out-of-control wolf populations, a creation of slanted feel-good thinking and bad judicial calls, back into controllable numbers.

 

Controllable numbers? In other words, extinction.

 

It's estimated wolves have now reduced the largest migrating elk herd in the United States by 75 percent. After all, if they can get the surviving elk numbers below the 25 percent level, then elk go on the endangered species list, and hunting ceases. Make no mistake; the wolf issue goes well beyond the wolf.