Community Chat

[forrestwolf]

I guess that by my nic.........I love wolves....I am Wolf Clan Cherokee.......Wolves are my plight........I work in any way to save any wild and endangered animals.....I am asking you to please read this, and submit to congress, representatives, National Wild Life Federation, National Parks Society, Humane Society of USA, or any organization that you feel comfortable with, to please help save wolf packs..........as the Federal Government has spent our dollars to put wolves on the short list, only to take them off, and now want to go for a more eradication period just for trophy hunters, and protect those that do not understand the wolf.....This is crazy to destroy a wolf, so that the elk, killed by a wolf for survival, will not kill the elk, but for a human to kill, for a trophy.........This is just not right...........

http://news.msn.com/us/judge-refuses-to-halt-wolf-trapping-in-idaho-wilderness

The eco system of the USA needs the help of the wolf, to bring back the balance of nature, and yes.........there are preditors of the wolf, without man becoming involved, to keep the wolf in check.........Nature should rule.....Wolves are loyal for life......I can not even say that about my ex husband..........

[doxie1]

Thanks for sharing. It is good to be reminded of important issues.

doxie

[RainyDayGal]

I agree. I have signed every petition for the wolves. I've also ""adopted"" 3 wolves from Wolf Haven International.

[forrestwolf]

On 1/20/2014 RedConvertibleGirl said:

I agree. I have signed every petition for the wolves. I've also "adopted" 3 wolves from Wolf Haven International.

Oh...........how kind you are......Everyone always ask me if I own a wolf, and of course, I have to say no, as wolves are not indigenous of GA, therefore it is illegal....... but that does not mean that I do not love them, and care what happens to them.........

[RainyDayGal]

MANY years ago my husband and his sister both owned wolves. Said they were absolutely wonderful pets. I don't know that I would want one as a pet, but I think they are such beautiful creatures and so misunderstood. It breaks my heart that there are those that would do them harm.

[esmeraldagooch]

Totally disagree with this. The animals they reintroduced are much larger than were originally out west. They are wiping out the elk , deer and moose. Anyone who was funding elk habitat is sick about what has happened.

[forrestwolf]

On 1/21/2014 esmeraldagooch said: Totally disagree with this. The animals they reintroduced are much larger than were originally out west. They are wiping out the elk , deer and moose. Anyone who was funding elk habitat is sick about what has happened.

I am part of saving ALL animals, without the eradication of ANY animal......Yes, I am Wolf Clan Cherokee, and the reintroduction of wolves is close to me, but I do not want any animal to be eradicated........even my one fear.......RATS.......as all animals are part of ecology that keeps each animal in check........wolves, are killed by cars, man, starvation, and such........but they will also aid in the ecology of nature......I am for the ecology of nature.......wolves were totally eradicated from the Yellowstone area, and are gradually coming back, and I understand they do not understand park/state boundaries........I do not want the elk to go away either, as they have been reintroduced to North Carolina, and are doing well......The reintroduction of the wolf, did not work, and went back to zero....Please understand, there are other reasons for the reason for elk loss, other than just the wolf....

Mating season

The mating season (rut) generally occurs from early September to mid-October. Elk gather in mixed herds—lots of females and calves, with a few bulls nearby. Bulls bugle to announce their availability and fitness to females and to warn and challenge other bulls. When answered, bulls move toward one another and sometimes engage in battle for access to the cows. They crash their antlers together, push each other intensely, and wrestle for dominance. While loud and extremely strenuous, fights rarely cause serious injury. The weaker bull ultimately gives up and wanders off.

Calves are born in May and June. They are brown with white spots and have little scent, providing them with good camouflage from predators. They can walk within an hour of birth, but they spend much of their first week to ten days bedded down between nursings. Soon thereafter they begin grazing with their mothers, and join a herd of other cows and calves. Up to two-thirds of each year's calves may be killed by predators. Elk calves are food for black and grizzly bears, wolves, coyotes, cougars, and golden eagles. Female elk can live 17–18 years. Rare individuals may live 22 years.

Disease in Greater Yellowstone

Brucellosis

Many elk and bison in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have been exposed to the bacterium that causes brucellosis. Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease that originated in livestock and often causes infected cows to abort their first calves. It is transmitted primarily when susceptible animals directly contact infected birth material. No cure exists for brucellosis in wild animals. For more information about brucellosis, see "Bison."

The prevalence of brucellosis in Yellowstone elk is low; the rate of exposure to brucellosis in 100 adult female elk captured on the park’s northern range during the winters of 2000 to 2005 was 2 percent; it was 3 percent in 130 neonatal elk on the park’s northern range during the summers of 2003–2005; and it was 3 percent in 73 adult female elk captured in the park’s Madison–Firehole drainages during winters of 1996–1998. Elk are commonly observed within 100 yards of bison during late winter and spring when brucellosis-induced abortion or calving occurs in Yellowstone.

Because of their high densities, elk that are fed in winter have sustained high levels of brucellosis; winter feeding on the northern range stopped more than 50 years ago. Elk are fed during the winter at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming, in addition to 22 Wyoming-run feedgrounds. The feedgrounds were created in the 1900s to maintain Wyoming’s elk herds and limit depredation as migratory routes from summer range to lower elevation winter ranges became blocked by settlement in the Jackson area. Transmission of brucellosis from feedground elk, where an average of 30 percent have tested positive for exposure to the bacteria, was the apparent source of infection in Wyoming cattle in 2004.

Chronic wasting disease

Elk, deer, and moose in Greater Yellowstone are at moderate risk for exposure to chronic wasting disease (CWD). This fatal infection, transmitted by animal contact or through the environment, has spread to within 130 miles of the park. National Park Service staff and partners will continue surveillance and, if necessary, take action to minimize both transmission of the disease and the effects of intervention on the elk population and other park resources.

Please understand..........I want all animals to survive........and I do not want the wolf population to become the fate of the Dire Wolf.......much bigger than the wolf today....yes........but still extinct none the less..........

[ptagirl]

I live in Michigan's UP. The wolves and coyotes have almost decimated the deer population for which this economy counts on year after year. Yes, wolves and ALL predators (and other animals) have the right to live, roam and hunt freely, BUT when they start wandering into your back and front yard with NO fear of humans is not good. Wolves have recently killed some domestic dogs which were tied up in someone's yard..

I, personally witnessed a wolf kill a yearling deer right in my back yard one day and it literally made me sick!

All animals need to be thinned out to protect against disease and for them to maintain their territories. This year they finally had a wolf hunt and only about 23 ( I think) wolves were taken....there are MANY more, believe me.

Even though the wolf is beautiful, the increased population is wiping out not only deer ,elk, and moose, but farmer's livestock ...And their livelihood..it is a fine line.

[apple1964]

I agree completely with what doxie said....If it was not for the wolves we would not have domestic dogs. They are adorable. I am very upset about what is happening with the dolphins in japan so wrong on so many levels...All animals deserve to live a good life. Not to be killed for sport.

[fingerlakesny]

That's what happens when the human species try to take control of the planet, always the male part. Happens in every aspect of life, whether it is politics, religion or the environment. The males always want control.