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We have been having a lot of wolf attacks in and around Fairbanks and Anchorage recently.
Bold Wolves Have Residents on Edge (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 12/07) (broken link)
Troubling Wolf Behavior Reported (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 12/08) (broken link)
Community Forum Offers Few Solutions to Recent Wolf Attacks (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 12/10) (broken link)
Wolves Kill 2 Dogs in Anchorage-Area Attacks (Anchorage Daily News, 12/12) (http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/wolves/story/9514718p-9424671c.html - broken link)
We have to keep a careful eye on our precious pooches, even in the cities. This is another good reason to keep our dogs on leashes when taking them for a walk. It also doesn't hurt to be well armed, just in case.
Shoot em if attacking dogs must be to many or sick they taking easy prey.
While it is legal to shoot wolves in defense of life or property in Alaska, it is illegal to shoot them with a .22 caliber rifle or pistol since they are considered "big game" in Alaska. Also, they are very wary of humans and none of these attacks took place where humans could observe them, much less shoot them. Wolves also rarely travel alone, unless they are rabid or otherwise sick, and pet dogs don't stand a chance against a pack of hungry wolves.
There are a great number of wolves in Alaska, and we have taken steps to lower their number through sterilization. Primarily for the purpose of increasing other game, such as moose and caribou. Wolves generally stay outside city limits, but occassionally will wander into the cities for, as you say, easy prey. "Easy prey" not only includes pets but also children.
What's the status on the fight against shooting wolves by air. There's been a huge conflict of air-licensed shooting of wolves out there in Alaska, Colorado and montana (?). I can understand the concern of controling numbers, but the method of chasing them down and shooting them when their are exhausted just seems very unnecessary. I haven't heard politicans taking on more humane methods like sterilization. Anyone know about this?
What's the status on the fight against shooting wolves by air. There's been a huge conflict of air-licensed shooting of wolves out there in Alaska, Colorado and montana (?). I can understand the concern of controling numbers, but the method of chasing them down and shooting them when their are exhausted just seems very unnecessary. I haven't heard politicans taking on more humane methods like sterilization. Anyone know about this?
The Connecticut-based organization (don't be fooled by their Anchorage P.O. Box) lost their suit in Alaska's court. The last I heard on the subject was three permits per year were being issued by the ADF&G to allow aerial shooting, or landing and shooting on the same day, of wolves in the McGrath area in order to reduce the wolf population. Area residents need between 130 and 150 moose/caribou per year, but have only been averaging between 60 and 90 for the last decade. My information is also a couple years old, so things may have changed.
Other areas where there are an over-abundance of wolves where hunting is restricted or prohibited (such as Denali National Park) the ADF&G biologists shoot the wolves (from the ground) with darts that leave them sterile. Their numbers are reduced through attrition.
Keep in mind that this is NOT hunting, but rather population control. Except for the limited number of permits issued in the McGrath area (as I noted above), it is illegal to shoot any game from the air, and it is also illegal to land and shoot any game on the same day.
"Easy prey" not only includes pets but also children.
My friends in Alaska lost a couple cats to what they assumed were wolves--it is scary to think that children or grownups are hurt, let alone killed. Woman Recovering After Wolf Attack
Attacks by wild, healthy wolves on humans are unusual but not unprecedented, according to McNay, who spent two years researching wolf attacks in North America and came up with 13 such attacks in the past 30 years through the year 2000. Eleven of those attacks involved "habituated" or "food-conditioned" wolves that had lost their fear of people while only two were by non-habituated wolves, he said.
"They're rare, but they're not unheard of," McNay said of wolf attacks on humans.
But sometimes they are rabid, or not even full-blooded wolves.
I have heard of several wolf-on-human attacks in Colorado, and every single one of them were wolf/dog hybrids.
Obviously this is not the case in Alaska--these are bold wolves with a definite attitude.
And I guess the problem is some dogs don't stay inside, and are easy pickings.
Regardless, I'm glad it's still illegal to shoot wolves from the air.
That practice just makes me sick.
Of course they are wild animals and I am not saying that they can't be dangerous or troublesome, I just hope that the bad apples don't spoil it for the others.
These are probably young wolves. They typically are not this aggressive, or come this close to town. During the winter of 1974 there were approximately 165 dogs lost to wolves. Again, they were younger wolves and that winter and the prior winter had very a poor moose/caribou population. There isn't a shortage of moose/caribou this winter.
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