Wolves around North Pole and Fairbanks (income, work, traffic)

[Sunset_Va]

Just always remember that Nature and animals about 99% of the time regulate their environment and solve their own problems.

Man on the other hand, causes about 99% of Nature and animal problems.

Guess what I am saying is, if you live in a wilderness area, expect and don't condemn (and exterminate) your surroundings .

Thats the part that confuses me about Alaskans.

[mal_flisk]

It shouldn't confuse you. Most of us use our environment to our advantage. Fishing and hunting, foraging etc, are a piece of life up here. We do what we can to ensure what we harvest is renewable, or replaceable. I have never taken a fish I won't eat, or shared meat from an animal without understanding the time involved in the growth of the animal and it's place in nature. Any good hunter follows the rules as laid out by F&G. Anyone who doesn't is nothing more than a poacher, and can decimate a population with complete disregard for the future consequences of his actions.

That's not the average Alaskan by a long shot.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by mal_flisk

It shouldn't confuse you. Most of us use our environment to our advantage. Fishing and hunting, foraging etc, are a piece of life up here. We do what we can to ensure what we harvest is renewable, or replaceable. I have never taken a fish I won't eat, or shared meat from an animal without understanding the time involved in the growth of the animal and it's place in nature. Any good hunter follows the rules as laid out by F&G. Anyone who doesn't is nothing more than a poacher, and can decimate a population with complete disregard for the future consequences of his actions.

That's not the average Alaskan by a long shot.

Well said, I completely agree.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Sunset_Va

Just always remember that Nature and animals about 99% of the time regulate their environment and solve their own problems.

Man on the other hand, causes about 99% of Nature and animal problems.

Guess what I am saying is, if you live in a wilderness area, expect and don't condemn (and exterminate) your surroundings .

Thats the part that confuses me about Alaskans.

In a dream world nature and animals regulate their environment to solve their own problems, but in real life nature is cruel to both animals and itself. The way it works in nature is as follows: eat or be eaten.

Since we humans are here to stay for awhile, and are supposedly more intelligent than other animal life around us, we don't want to exterminate our surroundings. That makes no sense. What we can do is to blend with or "manage" our surroundings (game, predators, nature, etc.) in order for us to survive. For example, Alaska trappers have learned from the past. Today's trappers in Alaska are very aware that they must take a small portion of the animals they trap, not all. If they exterminate all life around them in one year, then they won't have more animals to trap the following years. Predators, pray, and the environment can be managed for the continuation of all the species when possible.

The more you learn about Alaskans and Alaska, the less confused you will be. But you will never learn about us from afar, nor by others who may have the impression that they "really" know about us.

[Sunset_Va]

Thank you for responding with out anger. I meant no malice toward any residents, just trying to figure out the big picture. I guess my viewpoint about man's extreme in damaging wildlife is tainted by the fur sealing, whaling that happened in the early 20th century, especially in the South Atlantic.Millions upon millions of those creatures where killed...for what? some vanity people had at that time for fur hats? or oil?

And too in the case of the buffalo in the western plains, man sure didnt know when to stop the slaughter. I just get confused when I hear of the killing of wolves , by the government, but yet using wildlife as a draw promoting tourism. I hope you see my point, I know the last thing Alaskans want to hear is a person outside telling you what to do or how to think.

I just wish there was a better understanding by humans , that nature has its checks and balances, and we disrupt those methods when we allow some species to live, and kill others.

[Arcticthaw]

Roughly 20 years ago we were having similar wolf problems. We wre trapping and relocating them where we could. Some were being hunted by fish and game and private persons. The animal activists took great issue with this and threatened all kinds of action. It was suggested at that time that maybe the activists would like some wolves in their communities. The local airline offered to ship the animals for free. All we needed was a recipient group to stand up and recieve them for their community. This was even before they introduced wolves back into Yellowstone. No recipients were found. The activists declined to have the wolves in their towns, states.

Alaska Fish and Game Department has refined the science to provide the balance as required by our state's constitution. Everyone should butt out and let them do their work.

One may wish to look at how fast the wolf population in and around Yellowstone has increased since they were introduced. From several pairs to over a thousand the last time I looked.

The big concern for those of us that live in close proximity of wolves is the recent lack of fear of humans. This natural waryness needs to be reinstated to protect a young person walking down a long road to the bus stop. Fish and Game is working towards finding the proper solution to the problem.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Sunset_Va

Thank you for responding with out anger. I meant no malice toward any residents, just trying to figure out the big picture. I guess my viewpoint about man's extreme in damaging wildlife is tainted by the fur sealing, whaling that happened in the early 20th century, especially in the South Atlantic.Millions upon millions of those creatures where killed...for what? some vanity people had at that time for fur hats? or oil?

And too in the case of the buffalo in the western plains, man sure didnt know when to stop the slaughter. I just get confused when I hear of the killing of wolves , by the government, but yet using wildlife as a draw promoting tourism. I hope you see my point, I know the last thing Alaskans want to hear is a person outside telling you what to do or how to think.

I just wish there was a better understanding by humans , that nature has its checks and balances, and we disrupt those methods when we allow some species to live, and kill others.

As I mentioned before, we have learned form the past. And I disagree with you in relation to nature's check and balance. You can't also forget that humans are also part of nature. Nature by itself is like I said above: eat of be eaten. For example, one kills animal and plant life to farm the land. The result is more life such as wheat, lettuce, and tomatoes which we then kill to make a sandwich for us to consume. When you step on your manicured lawn, you kill the little organisms that managed to survive the mower's blade. Even the tiny mites eating from your skin are killed when you take a shower. That's nature for you. Nature is just that, "nature." It's cruel, it's blind, has no feelings, is real. The nature you are referring to is only one's imagination.... emotions one develops through the years.

[Vancefish]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

As I mentioned before, we have learned form the past. And I disagree with you in relation to nature's check and balance. You can't also forget that humans are also part of nature. Nature by itself is like I said above: eat of be eaten. For example, one kills animal and plant life to farm the land. The result is more life such as wheat, lettuce, and tomatoes which we then kill to make a sandwich for us to consume. When you step on your manicured lawn, you kill the little organisms that managed to survive the mower's blade. Even the tiny mites eating from your skin are killed when you take a shower. That's nature for you. Nature is just that, "nature." It's cruel, it's blind, has no feelings, is real. The nature you are referring to is only one's imagination.... emotions one develops through the years.

I agree, People are animals who cause various damages. Just like a pig digs up roots for food and kills the plant, or a starfish kills reef corals for food, Deer kill aspens eating bark, Beavers downs millions of healthy trees each year for shelter.....
I believe that people should watch and maybe even try to stop polluting. No matter which belief you have on the Environment. People create way to much dirty waste. Living with wolves and other "destructive" animals is life and nature, and we are part of it all that. Now, We know, we cause damage. WE, can stop if we want. Wolves are wolves and will continue to be what wolves are.

[warptman]

I want to go shoot a caribou all of a sudden.

[DannyL]

I want to wrap a tourist all up in duct tape all of a sudden....