Has anyone in MT heard of wolves attacking horses? (live, shop)

[4horseshoes]

I have been hearing a lot about the wolves spreading out.. I know they can take down moose and elk.

I just am checking several near by areas to see if anyone has had any problems as yet.

Thank you in advance for any responses...

Dee

[decembergirl]

Funny thing about wolves...they don't shop at a grocery store so I suppose anything that smells like meat is fair game to them. But the equestrian breed does seem pretty good about protecting themselves. I have heard of people putting donkeys or mules in with their sheep to keep predetors at bay. Horses are an intelligent breed, they aren't like cows. And elk and moose are no wussies either. When they are sick, injured or old then that makes them easier to take down.

[decembergirl]

Lol, see you were worried about wolves instead of rampant stupidity, which is apparently more of a danger.

[4horseshoes]

Thank you for your replies...

I realize there is more danger around stupid people than wolves... I was just checking out some info I had been told and wanted to see if anyone here had heard of it...

I am not in favor of protecting a violent 2 legged critter or a 4 legged critter... Do away with the problem, no one else gets hurt...IMO...

Anyway glad to hear that horses aren't a regular meal for the real wolves...

thanks again for the replies...

Dee

[Rickers]

There has been an increase in the grey wolf population in our area and I see them stalking around cattle every now and then but they seem to show up in our valley only one or two at a time so they haven't been too bad on livestock yet. But if large packs start marauding then the ranchers will start taking them out. Horses seem to be pretty wolf wise and they don't hesitate to kick at them. The only time I faced down a wolf while on foot was on some property I owned just east of Colville Wa. That was in 1972, He just looked at me for a bit and then sauntered off into the trees.

[Sandhills Guru]

Montana Wolf Updates

This site is somewhat helpful in keeping a person up what's up with the wolves in Montana.

[Radek]

Originally Posted by decembergirl

Funny thing about wolves...they don't shop at a grocery store so I suppose anything that smells like meat is fair game to them. But the equestrian breed does seem pretty good about protecting themselves. I have heard of people putting donkeys or mules in with their sheep to keep predetors at bay. Horses are an intelligent breed, they aren't like cows. And elk and moose are no wussies either. When they are sick, injured or old then that makes them easier to take down.

Wolves hunt for the old, injured and sick. Not the healthy.

Wolves are also a natural part of the cycle, and are needed to keep the elk, deer and moose populations in check.

Originally Posted by rickers

There has been an increase in the grey wolf population in our area and I see them stalking around cattle every now and then but they seem to show up in our valley only one or two at a time so they haven't been too bad on livestock yet. But if large packs start marauding then the ranchers will start taking them out. Horses seem to be pretty wolf wise and they don't hesitate to kick at them. The only time I faced down a wolf while on foot was on some property I owned just east of Colville Wa. That was in 1972, He just looked at me for a bit and then sauntered off into the trees.

Wolves really aren't interested in attacking humans. I believe there is now only ONE documented case of a sane wolf attacking a human.

Originally Posted by Sandhills Guru

Montana Wolf Updates

This site is somewhat helpful in keeping a person up what's up with the wolves in Montana.

that site doesn't look updated since 2002.


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I recently took a course that focused on wildlife in Yellowstone, and one of the major topics was the Elk/Wolf populations. If you look at the data, its cyclical. As the elk population dwindles, the wolf population dwindles, when the elk population increases, so does the wolf population to counter it.

I have heard of wolves taking out livestock, though its more commonly cougars. Again, horses have that ridiculously powerful kick. And they tend to know how to use it. So, I doubt there is much to be worried about, AND you'd need to be in a very remote stretch, near a pack of wolves for it to even be an issue.


Personally, Cougars scare me a lot more.

[imbobbbb]

wolves also especially like the very young.foals are much more likely to be attacked then adult horses of any age

[decembergirl]

I heart you.

Originally Posted by Radek

Wolves hunt for the old, injured and sick. Not the healthy.

Wolves are also a natural part of the cycle, and are needed to keep the elk, deer and moose populations in check.



Wolves really aren't interested in attacking humans. I believe there is now only ONE documented case of a sane wolf attacking a human.


that site doesn't look updated since 2002.


-------------------
I recently took a course that focused on wildlife in Yellowstone, and one of the major topics was the Elk/Wolf populations. If you look at the data, its cyclical. As the elk population dwindles, the wolf population dwindles, when the elk population increases, so does the wolf population to counter it.

I have heard of wolves taking out livestock, though its more commonly cougars. Again, horses have that ridiculously powerful kick. And they tend to know how to use it. So, I doubt there is much to be worried about, AND you'd need to be in a very remote stretch, near a pack of wolves for it to even be an issue.


Personally, Cougars scare me a lot more.

[decembergirl]

Originally Posted by 4horseshoes

I am not in favor of protecting a violent 2 legged critter or a 4 legged critter... Do away with the problem, no one else gets hurt...IMO...
Dee

Animals are not trying to be violent, they run off of instinct for survival. Aminals do what God designed them to do. I really doubt you will have any worries about predators attacking your horses. Do worry about hunters mistaking horses for elk. This has happened in our area.