Has anyone in MT heard of wolves attacking horses? (how much, price)

[4horseshoes]

Hi All,

Thank you for your responses.. the webcites and personal knowledge of real facts.

Don't want to start an issue of opinions at war.

So I am asking the moderators of this cite to please close this thread, as I have received good info and wish to not have hurt feelings etc.

Thank you.

Dee

[Radek]

I dont think we're anywhere close to starting a war. Most of the opinions seemed to be, "Yeah it can happen, but rarely wolves w/ horses, and if so... Horses are more than capable of defending themselves."

That was my take. But, glad we could all help.

[ElkHunter]

I see no reason to close it. Some interesting info coming out and none of it has been heated. I'll leave it open for now.

[decembergirl]

People like to talk about wolves killing anything they like but wolves are very efficient predators who do not like to waste their food source. Coyotes consume way more biomass than wolves do. Which is part of the reason wolves do not like coyotes. I think they are a really neat animal. But I don't think the reintroduction is a great idea. Too many people have this big bad wolf mentality. It just won't work when people prefer to base their information off of the Three Little Pigs instead of actual fact. I saw this ridiculous program on TV where some troglodyte had brought their kids on to speak out against wolves because they might eat one of them and for a while I thought I was the only other person in the state that knew that there has only been one documented attack on human beings in the past century. So Radek, you are my new hero. It just baffles me that people live or want to live here and they can't deal with the main feature that makes Montana what it is. If you can't handle the wild, then stay out of the wilderness. Bears totally freak me out, which is why I do not go camping in the mountains with nothing between me and the outside world but a tent. Oh no, Wingate. Thank you much.

[JoeJoeMan]

I wouldn't be surprised and I kind of expect to hear someday that a wolf has attacked a young child. It's almost inevidable that it will happen, afterall mountain lions have already attacked people/children.......so why wouldn't a cunning and agressive preditor like the wolf, that don't to be that shy about coming in close to where people live, like ranches after livestock...
I think wolves are doing alot of things now that people said they wouldn't do when they were trying to get them reintroduced.
All that being said, I'm all for having wolves in our world here in montana. But like other large preditors there will just be more and more trouble as people keep moving into and on the borders of their range.
I guess people will just have to learn to accept change even if that means the wolves eating a couple of their kids in their backyard because the parents wanted to live out their 'montana dream'

[decembergirl]

I have more to fear from my fellow man than I do natural predators. Not that I don't believe it could happen or that it would be terrifying, but more likely I would be attacked by a person, or hit by a drunk driver in this state then attacked by a bear, mountain lion or a wolf. More people die from bee stings than shark attacks yet we generally have more irrational fear of being attacked by sharks than being stung by bees. Its just the nature of fear. As far as the safety of our kids, this last year Helena had about four attempted abductions. Including a man who went into a families front yard and grabbed their little boy. Broad daylight attempts. Now that is something to worry about.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by 4horseshoes

Hi All,

Thank you for your responses.. the webcites and personal knowledge of real facts.

Don't want to start an issue of opinions at war.

So I am asking the moderators of this cite to please close this thread, as I have received good info and wish to not have hurt feelings etc.

Thank you.

Dee

Dee, you seem like a good-natured person. If you want a definition of "opinions at war" read through the thread on "Montana relocation: resentment toward newcomers". I'm surprised you haven't had a post yet on Californians attacking wolves.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by GLS

Dee, you seem like a good-natured person. If you want a definition of "opinions at war" read through the thread on "Montana relocation: resentment toward newcomers". I'm surprised you haven't had a post yet on Californians attacking wolves.

It's not a war, it's just spirited.

[JoeJoeMan]

december wrote:

I have more to fear from my fellow man than I do natural predators. Not that I don't believe it could happen or that it would be terrifying, but more likely I would be attacked by a person, or hit by a drunk driver in this state then attacked by a bear, mountain lion or a wolf. More people die from bee stings than shark attacks yet we generally have more irrational fear of being attacked by sharks than being stung by bees. Its just the nature of fear. As far as the safety of our kids, this last year Helena had about four attempted abductions. Including a man who went into a families front yard and grabbed their little boy. Broad daylight attempts. Now that is something to worry about.

All that is certainly true.......But (you knew there was a 'but' coming).....if I see a griz in the woods while I'm getting out of my car, I'm still getting back and heading back down the road......even though I know my chance of getting hit by a drunk verses eatin' by a griz are 10,000 to 1. Go Griz !

[jimj]

Originally Posted by JoeJoeMan

december wrote:



All that is certainly true.......But (you knew there was a 'but' coming).....if I see a griz in the woods while I'm getting out of my car, I'm still getting back and heading back down the road......even though I know my chance of getting hit by a drunk verses eatin' by a griz are 10,000 to 1. Go Griz !

What about getting hit by a drunk griz (fan)? Or, more likely getting eaten by a grizzley drunk?