deer herd

[chet]

And the DNR wonder why our deer herd is being decimated. Neighbor got this shot yesterday of a pack of 5 Timber Wolves in broad daylight.

[Southside]

Should have used the boom lense instead of the zoom lense.

[Chuck White]

Agreed, use the SSS approach!    

[Jeff]

The U.P. wolfs are protected by over zealous beurocrats just waiting for you to try that. Trackers, chips, all kinds of surveillance, and they use what ever they can to find out why a wolf quits moving and who or what is responsible. In this day and age, shooting a wolf is not advisable.

[newoodguy78]

We're they introduced to the U.P or have they always been there?

[chet]

They are native. But with the current Federal regulations, states currently have no way to regulate them. In the case of this area of the U.P. wolf populations have risen drastictly.

[Southside]

Our ancestors removed apex predators and we allow them to take back over.  Where is the face palm emoji when you need it? 

[newoodguy78]

What are the regulations regarding them messing with livestock out that way? Read an article a few years ago on the problems ranchers were having with them messing with their cows calves in particular. They pretty much couldn't do anything about it. Was a real problem. I'm assuming after reading above it's the same in your area. 
I enjoy nature and all it's critters but not being able to control an animal that has no natural predators never seemed like a good idea to me. Glad we don't have them around here.

[chet]

Here livestock losses can be reimbursed, but you must be able to PROVE the loss.

[sawguy21]

The ranchers pretty much wiped out the wolf population in the Yellowstone area in the 1800's and the deer and elk took over. They overgrazed, destroyed the banks along water courses along with the food supply for other species. Canadian wolves have been reintroduced to restore the balance of nature, the ranchers are not pleased but they are the intruders. Don't get me wrong, I am no leftwing Suzuki supporter but pointing out that nature has a way of taking care of itself.

[K-Guy]

Our ancestors removed apex predators and we allow them to take back over.  Where is the face palm emoji when you need it?

I was still in Alberta when they trapped wolves there to re-introduce them in Yellowstone. We all had a good laugh at that, especially the farmers. When I lived even further North, Ft St John, BC local farmers shot them and coyotes when they saw them, probably still do.

[Southside]

There is an ongoing effort to reintroduce red wolves to eastern North Carolina and Virginia.  There are presently breeding pairs in facilities that are part of the intended release. 

Makes about as much sense as letting a few breeding pairs of T-Rex's go since they used to be here too...

[upnut]

At one time the Ottawa National Forest visitors center in Watersmeet had a stuffed wolf on display, I was surprised how large it seemed up close. Had a pack cut loose howling near me this fall while grouse hunting outside Trout Lake. A 45 pound Brittany and a 20 gauge are not that comforting in those moments. We headed for the truck, put the Carp River between us and them, and continued hunting. The phrase I remember from the morning liars table at the Rudyard restaurant was "coyotes howling out the front door, wolves out back"....They weren't too happy.

Scott B.

[SwampDonkey]

The coy dogs are a good size around here and they make themselves known about every night howling. Saw a pack of five last winter on the back of a neighbor's dairy farm. We have as many deer as you can count on one hand in my local area, and they move south in winter. No tracks to be found from Dec until April.





You would not even recognize that grassy area now, 20 foot tall spruce and thick. :D

[Hilltop366]

If wolves can swim as good as coyotes you will never out swim one.