I moved to Idaho about two years ago, coming from N. Arizona where the "re-populating" of wolves didn't do well. At least not as far as many conservationists were concerned. Actually got to see them twice though. Once in Hannigan's Meadow area, and once after the Rodeo-Chediski fire near Pinedale.
Within a day of arriving up here, I started hearing about the "huge" deer and elk populations that used to roam the hills in my area, about ten years ago, and was told that there are less than 10% (who counted?) of the population left in our area. All thanks to the wolves. For the next year or so, I wandered around, looking for the wolves. Heard 'em a few times, saw track frequently, and even managed to get to 5 kills that fit the supposed "scatter the dude all over the landscape" pattern I was told about. Never saw one though, but not for want of looking. I also heard about pet dogs being taken (out of view, during the night), and a large German Shephard was taken in a small town nearby, in broad daylight. In town.
Fish & Game has shot a few and that always gets a lot of publicity around here. But I was skeptical that they were as big a problem as I was being told. WELLL.......,
Last deer and elk season (2008) in an area that is famous for its hunting, with a TON of local hunters that have the trophies to prove they know what they are doing, absolutely NO ONE took any big game. Nor do they know of anyone who took any game that season. Not only that, but they never even SAW any game that was remotely close enough to take. Which began to sound like the animals had left the area, or are somewhere, maybe masquerading as illegal aliens and collecting benefits for the winter. (welfare elk???
The state has also conceded that our local population has just about doubled in the last two years (wolves, I mean, not aliens) so maybe there really IS a problem. And so, with the deregulation that has just occurred, I will be buying a tag, just in case. And even though the area seems to be filled with Elk and deer this spring, I'm gonna be watching where they go when it gets close to season opening. We're not all that far from Sun Valley. Maybe they ski or snowboard?
Seriously though, we've had track in our front yard, and my neighbors have seen track in theirs. We all have dogs so that's a concern, and if one of them is taken, I believe there will be a pretty hot fire mission, right here in the neighborhood. After all, when you get down to it, they are now considered game animals and most of us here are saddling up for the season. And I don't mean with pepper spray and milkbones.
March 31st 2009 12:54 AM
So far, the only incident with kids involved a coupe of little ones playing in their back yard. The grandmother went out to check on them and there was a cougar laying in a tree, watching them. When the adult came out, the cat took off, thank God. But no episodes with wolves with kids. One older "pioneer-type" lady was black powder hunting last year (2007) and found herself being stalked by 5 wolves. With only a one shot weapon, she beat feet to her truck and exited the area. All its gonna take is one human killed, and the wolves will see us as a prey target, and the you-know-what will hit the fan. Why does it always take a tragedy to get people off their butt?
