PAW Act- Save Wolves (Metlakatla: home, rent, business)

[Sunset_Va]

Always a controversial subject, especially to non-Alaskans, I can see both sides.

My concern stems from the fact we like always , are altering nature's course of action. and have always thought nature had the best checks and balances. Others will say I am wrong. What would really happen if no action was taken? It reminds me of the hare overpopulation in some parts of Canada, and the resulting increase in Lynx'es, after the hare's die out, so do the surplus of lynx'es.

My area has seen the introduction of coyotes in recent years, and there is a big uproar over eliminating them. My question is if they have never been here before, what has caused them to migrate here now?

[Barkingowl]

Maybe its time to get rid of the humans?

[Tressa]

One has to consider the fact that wolves have numerous litters in a year and these litters are normally 4 or more. Moose and Caribou have one born sometimes 2 a year, with that said they are already out numbered. Hunting is a big deal here in Alaska and most part it's survival, the don't eat wolf or as far as I know I haven't heard of them eating wolf perhaps that might be something to think about as other countries do.

Most folks that have such an issue with the hunt don't live around wildlife and don't live in Alaska, if they don't live in Alaska they shouldn't have any say, and if they want to continue to put mouth where it doesn't belong then lets trap the wolves in numbers and send them to all those that complain. That would be one way of dealing with our abundance amount of unwanted critters and satisfy their need to take care of them.

Lets see how long they have them around before they start hunting them

[mal_flisk]

If they had wolves taking pets in their neighborhoods, the gloves would come off, but Alaska and Alaskans have been considered fair game (pardon the pun) for animal rights activists since the 60's

[Barkingowl]

Didn't they have problems with mountain lions in California eating pets?

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Didn't they have problems with mountain lions in California eating pets?

They still do. Not only pets are killed by mountain lions, but humans are mauled every now and then. I don't know if humans die to mountain lions in CA, however.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Sunset_Va

Always a controversial subject, especially to non-Alaskans, I can see both sides.

My concern stems from the fact we like always , are altering nature's course of action. and have always thought nature had the best checks and balances. Others will say I am wrong. What would really happen if no action was taken? It reminds me of the hare overpopulation in some parts of Canada, and the resulting increase in Lynx'es, after the hare's die out, so do the surplus of lynx'es.

My area has seen the introduction of coyotes in recent years, and there is a big uproar over eliminating them. My question is if they have never been here before, what has caused them to migrate here now?

I would think that an abundance of food, coupled to no natural enemies (human, predators) to kill the coyotes, allows for the growth of their population. They have probably always been there, but in numbers small so small not to be noticed. Also, it's possible that as the human population expands, it encroaches further into their territory, so now more people than ever before have the chance to see these animals.

I have heard of deer being seen near Anchorage, and turkeys by the Kenai Peninsula. I have also heard of cases relating to mountain lions being seen in Alaska.

One thing for certain: Alaskans don't want the wolves exterminated, nor any other animals for that matter. Wolf control is not more than predator management to allow for the moose population to rebound in a few specific and very small areas.

[Marty Van Diest]

If you are decide to kill a certain amount of wolves, than it should be done in the most efficeint and humane way possible. This is to shoot them from airplanes.

It is almost impossible to hunt them from the ground and very difficult to trap them. They are extremely intelligent animals and so are difficult to eradicate any other way.

[FOAD]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

They still do. Not only pets are killed by mountain lions, but humans are mauled every now and then. I don't know if humans die to mountain lions in CA, however.

Yes, several dozen people have been mauled in California, and up to a dozen have been consumed or severely injured (close to being eaten.)

To get a snapshot of the situation created by the insanity of allowing mountain lions to become acclimated to hikers, bikers and fieldtrippers... Just cut and paste into Google:
Cuyamaca lion OR cougar

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is a good example. One weekend, a warden was called up there to help with a lion that was attacking a horse in the equestrian corral. Later, another camper called to report a lion attacking his dog. As the warden came upon the scene, the lion, which had been chased back into the trees, began stalking him. After shooting it, the rest of the campers began yelling that another lion was charging him, and he shot that one as well just short of it attacking him. Three aggressive lions in one weekend. Even the warden was rattled.

[megensmom]

Holy smokes I think if I was the warden I would've passed out.

I wish they could read what you all have wrote,maybe it would help them understand "why" airplane shooting the wolves is not as cruel as they think and why it might be more humane.
Since most people rely on what they see on TV or the web as to what a place may be like and since there are so many myths about Alaska I think it would be very educational.