01-04-2008, 12:53 AM
[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]There is nothing wrong with wolves themselves at all even in Wyoming. The people that are not willing to allow managment of the wolves in todays environment is the biggest issue I have. If the original introduction plan was adhered to I don't feel we would even be having this discussion.[/size][/#808000][/font]
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[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]The original USFWS reintroduction plan to delist the wolves and allow states the ability to manage, was to have 30 breeding pairs and 300 wolves with uniform distribution between Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. [/size][/#808000][/font]
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[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]This was reached many years ago and they were not delisted for state management. As of December 2006 Wyoming alone had 37 confirmed packs, 14 of these packs including 10 breeding pairs were established within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The remaining 23 packs including 15 breeding pairs are outside of the national parks. This gives the Greater Yellostone area a confirmed total by the USFWS of around 400 wolves with over half residing outside of National park Boundaries with a vast majority living within Wyoming borders. It is also documented that wolves in Wyoming are increasing in population by and average of 22% since 1998. [/size][/#808000][/font]
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[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]Like I said I have no issue with wolves they are only doing what is natural to them but they are having a dramatic impact on Wyoming's wildlife especially elk. As of now each wolf in Wyoming is consuming an average of 9.9 elk, 2.4 deer, .2 bison, moose and antelope, and .03 bighorn sheep annually. As you know wolves are opportunistic predators and primarily feed on the young of the year. Wyoming elk populations are starting to hurt due to the decreasing cow to calf ratios. No doubt the drought, and decline of habitat are contributing factors in these declines, but when compared to very similar areas of the state that do not have established wolf packs the difference is very noticable. As of present dates elk populations are down anyehare from 5-20%, and deer populations down 3-19% in the areas of the original introduction since 1995, which include Yellowstone and Grand Teton NP. These decreases are only going to continue to spread accross the state and to neighboring state such as Utah as wolf populations increase and spread out.[/size][/#808000][/font]
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[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]You are right though I don't believe the wolf is anything to be scared of. To me they are no more dangerous than Bears, Mountian Lions, or even an
moose. People should be careful when they are in the areas with any of these animals. But they do need to be managed for todays environment in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming which is dramatically diferent from when they were originally extirpated. Wyoming's management plan was accepted by the USFWS recently which should lead to delisting by the end of February barring court injunctions from organizations against wolf management. [/size][/#808000][/font]
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[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]Oh I didn't pull any of this info out of my arse either it is available from both the Wyoming G&F and the USFWS.[/size][/#808000][/font]
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[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3][/size][/#808000][/font]
[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]The original USFWS reintroduction plan to delist the wolves and allow states the ability to manage, was to have 30 breeding pairs and 300 wolves with uniform distribution between Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. [/size][/#808000][/font]
[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3][/size][/#808000][/font]
[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]This was reached many years ago and they were not delisted for state management. As of December 2006 Wyoming alone had 37 confirmed packs, 14 of these packs including 10 breeding pairs were established within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The remaining 23 packs including 15 breeding pairs are outside of the national parks. This gives the Greater Yellostone area a confirmed total by the USFWS of around 400 wolves with over half residing outside of National park Boundaries with a vast majority living within Wyoming borders. It is also documented that wolves in Wyoming are increasing in population by and average of 22% since 1998. [/size][/#808000][/font]
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[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]Like I said I have no issue with wolves they are only doing what is natural to them but they are having a dramatic impact on Wyoming's wildlife especially elk. As of now each wolf in Wyoming is consuming an average of 9.9 elk, 2.4 deer, .2 bison, moose and antelope, and .03 bighorn sheep annually. As you know wolves are opportunistic predators and primarily feed on the young of the year. Wyoming elk populations are starting to hurt due to the decreasing cow to calf ratios. No doubt the drought, and decline of habitat are contributing factors in these declines, but when compared to very similar areas of the state that do not have established wolf packs the difference is very noticable. As of present dates elk populations are down anyehare from 5-20%, and deer populations down 3-19% in the areas of the original introduction since 1995, which include Yellowstone and Grand Teton NP. These decreases are only going to continue to spread accross the state and to neighboring state such as Utah as wolf populations increase and spread out.[/size][/#808000][/font]
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[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]You are right though I don't believe the wolf is anything to be scared of. To me they are no more dangerous than Bears, Mountian Lions, or even an
moose. People should be careful when they are in the areas with any of these animals. But they do need to be managed for todays environment in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming which is dramatically diferent from when they were originally extirpated. Wyoming's management plan was accepted by the USFWS recently which should lead to delisting by the end of February barring court injunctions from organizations against wolf management. [/size][/#808000][/font][font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3][/size][/#808000][/font]
[font "Tempus Sans ITC"][#808000][size 3]Oh I didn't pull any of this info out of my arse either it is available from both the Wyoming G&F and the USFWS.[/size][/#808000][/font]
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