Why is modern man intent on wolves' end?
I would like to jump into the Ken Fishman, Tony McDermott banter with my own “biased opinion” Is Tony McDermott’s opinion expressed in his letter to the editor not biased? All predators, whether they are wolves, bugs or your house cat are cold blooded killers.
What set wolves apart in mans eye is that they compete with him for his prime game animal. Or do they? If people like Mr. McDermott would look at this wolf issue with an open mind and be willing to accept proven science, they should be thankful for the benefits provided by the natural ecosystem of which wolves contribute to. I am sure that I will loose Mr. McDermott as I continue to ramble on, as most wolf haters shut down when shown the science proving the benefits of wolves or any other predator.
When Man, at least modern man, goes hunting for his deer or elk, he will pass on his chance for the small, sick or injured animal and bag the biggest prime animal he can. Wolves and any other predator are not, under normal circumstances, willing to risk the danger that would be entailed in trying to get the prime animal. They go for the weak, injured, easiest prey possible. In fact much of a wolf’s diet consist of mice, rabbit and other small non dangerous animals. If a wolf gets injured trying to bring down a large prime animal, it is quite likely a death sentence for that wolf. The wolf knows this. This, strongest survives syndrome enhances the species. Man’s taking of the best (prize) animals degrades the species. Modern man tries to do mother nature better by becoming the only predator, and allowing only his prize game animal to survive so that he can hunt the prime animal. Do you think that the cave man got the prime animal with his spear or the easiest one he could? The culling of the weakest by both the cave man and the wolf allowed the prime animal to propagate the species.
Science research in Yellowstone Park has shown the dramatic positive changes as a result of the wolf reintroduction there. Much of the over grazed lands within the park have returned to their natural state after decades of degradation due to over grazing. This has had a very positive affect to streams and lakes and has greatly enhanced the fishing. Fish require the cover that is natural along stream banks. Because of this, fishermen should be thankful for the return of the wolf.
My house cat brings me mice and birds that he kills. He does not eat most of them. I guess he kill for the fun of it. A cold blooded killer? Wolves and other wild predators hunt for survival. Most human hunters hunt for the thrill of it, very few hunters survival depend on their kill. Is this not a cold blooded killer?
Contrary to what wolf haters claim, wolf pack and wolf population will not explode if left unchecked. Nature, as science has shown will keep the natural population in check. If this wasn’t so there would be millions of wolves in arctic Canada. There isn’t. In fact studies have shown that if wolves hunted by man, assuming that man will try to bag the biggest prime animal, ie; the alpha male or female, Mans success is very likely to result in more wolves, not less. In a pack of wolves only the alpha male and female will breed resulting in only one litter per pack. If the alpha pair are eliminated, multiple male and females will mate, resulting in multiple litters per pack.
From my own personal experience with wolves I will admit that there is potentially some danger to humans but that danger is much smaller than the danger presented by your neighbor’s pit bull or the danger to livestock and wildlife as a result of packs of domestic dogs. Sadly, we still believe in the fable of little red riding hood. How is it that for thousands of years native Americans lived in harmony, even worshipped the wolf and modern white man cannot?
MARTY STITSEL
Sandpoint