"The Grey"

[beautifullywild77]

They started the Lobo or Mexican Gray Wolf re-introduction program here awhile back, they were almost completely extinct in the wild here in New Mexico from loss of habitat and killings by farmers and ranchers. It was big news to us New Mexicans who haven't wild wolves ever in the wild and have been taught about their near extinction from kindergarten and seeing the pack in our zoo. At the Rio Grande Zoo here in Albuquerque, we have a whole pack of Lobos that have been there for generations.

http://www.joelsartore.com/stock/WOL002-00081/?search=mexican gray wolf&sequence=70&num=100

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/

Here is the mortalities of those in the program http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/pdf/MW_mortality.pdf

Here is some other links to how the program is coming along
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/MWPS.shtml

 

[beautifullywild77]

Here is a photo collection of Mexican Gray Wolf breeding programs from all different Zoos
http://www.joelsartore.com/stock/search/?search=mexican+gray+wolf

 

[beautifullywild77]

I do have to say that when in packs they have a different mentality than lone predators.

 

[AliCat37]

I love wolves, they are one of my favorite animals. How ever they ARE a predator and to say they wont attack is like saying a bear will not attack, it is a top of the chain predator.

While yes, I have heard this, I also mentioned that there have only been 2 attacks by wolves on humans in the last hundred years- both in Alaska and both disputed. As far as I know, there were also coyote tracks found on site. There are far more attacks by bears, mountain lions, and especially coyotes. Not to mention dogs- I've walked outside of my own door in the suburbs and on three separate occasions been chased and bitten at by dogs. There is a huge misconception about wolves in general, and the risk they pose to humans is one of them. In both cases you discuss, you mention A-Jogging and B- a snow machine (the second seems more like one of those stories where facts are distorted) and both of these, to a predator, indicates a weak animal, since only the weak animals will run from a predator, initiating the hunting instinct. Healthy wolves will avoid humans, some will approach out of curiosity, but most will turn tail and run at the slightest scent of a person. I would be far more concerned about ungulates than any predator.

 

[lovehatepassion]

While yes, I have heard this, I also mentioned that there have only been 2 attacks by wolves on humans in the last hundred years- both in Alaska and both disputed. As far as I know, there were also coyote tracks found on site. There are far more attacks by bears, mountain lions, and especially coyotes. Not to mention dogs- I've walked outside of my own door in the suburbs and on three separate occasions been chased and bitten at by dogs. There is a huge misconception about wolves in general, and the risk they pose to humans is one of them. In both cases you discuss, you mention A-Jogging and B- a snow machine (the second seems more like one of those stories where facts are distorted) and both of these, to a predator, indicates a weak animal, since only the weak animals will run from a predator, initiating the hunting instinct. Healthy wolves will avoid humans, some will approach out of curiosity, but most will turn tail and run at the slightest scent of a person. I would be far more concerned about ungulates than any predator.

i agree. i have seen a moose out in our yard go nut and destroy all the snowmen we made. moose are terrifying. they will attack trucks, snowmen, decks whatever just because. bears and wolves and the like will typically run away unless a) you run away first then they might chase you or b) you are between them and their babies, then you will probably get attacked.

 

[Nova_C]

Yeah, moose can be extremely aggressive and they are massive.

I lived in southern Alberta for most of my live before coming up here to Canada's frozen north (I'm almost at the arctic circle!) and cougar attacks were not uncommon.

And I'm not talking about 30 something single ladies.

Canmore, a small community outside of Calgary in the foothills of the Rockies had a rash of cougar attacks just a couple years ago. Several in one year.

I haven't heard of any wolf attacks, though I'm not sure how many of them are actually in that area.

 

[AliCat37]

And I'm not talking about 30 something single ladies.

LOL I had to read that twice to get it xD

Yeah, down here we have had a few hikers get attacked by cougars (but mostly dogs), and a few years ago a bear "chased" some pregnant lady (that whole story is pretty skewed and unfortunately the bear was euthanized in that case), but our local coyotes are probably the second biggest worry next to the deer in rut right now. None have attacked- yet- but they have come really close to the ranch and a few of them approached people, many of them here have mange which unfortunately causes them to act as if they have rabies especially in winter. I've noticed, however, that coyote attacks nationwide seemed to increase this year.

I should mention, as I failed to do so earlier, that the number of wolf attacks I mentioned is from those of pure wolves in the wild. Mid content wolf-dogs are very dangerous, since they have the strength of a wolf, and the aggressiveness of a dog, while also lacking fear of people. So when you combine a shy animal like the wolf with an aggressive animal such as a dog, you get a confused, and dangerous animal that attacks not only livestock, other pets, etc, but also humans. We were always taught that wolf dogs are the most dangerous, and there are many attacks by wolf-dogs that have been documented through out history and more recently as well due to their increased popularity as "pets".

 

[Allalaskan]

While yes, I have heard this, I also mentioned that there have only been 2 attacks by wolves on humans in the last hundred years- both in Alaska and both disputed. As far as I know, there were also coyote tracks found on site. There are far more attacks by bears, mountain lions, and especially coyotes. Not to mention dogs- I've walked outside of my own door in the suburbs and on three separate occasions been chased and bitten at by dogs. There is a huge misconception about wolves in general, and the risk they pose to humans is one of them. In both cases you discuss, you mention A-Jogging and B- a snow machine (the second seems more like one of those stories where facts are distorted) and both of these, to a predator, indicates a weak animal, since only the weak animals will run from a predator, initiating the hunting instinct. Healthy wolves will avoid humans, some will approach out of curiosity, but most will turn tail and run at the slightest scent of a person. I would be far more concerned about ungulates than any predator.

The guy on the snowmachine was hunting them, so it problubly was more out of defence then an attack I will give you that.

The lady who was killed by the wolves was proven using DNA evidence on her body and on and in the wolves DNA of the wolves captured, hard to say that is arguable. Men have gone to prison on less evidence then that.

But yes most wolves will run from people, but not always. You should never turn your back on any predator large enough to harm you.

Its when people flat out say they WONT attack riles me up because while yes it is very very very unlikely, it is not impossible.

 

[Allalaskan]

Yeah, moose can be extremely aggressive and they are massive.

I lived in southern Alberta for most of my live before coming up here to Canada's frozen north (I'm almost at the arctic circle!) and cougar attacks were not uncommon.

And I'm not talking about 30 something single ladies.

Canmore, a small community outside of Calgary in the foothills of the Rockies had a rash of cougar attacks just a couple years ago. Several in one year.

I haven't heard of any wolf attacks, though I'm not sure how many of them are actually in that area.

Haha, ya I have been chased by moose, not fun. They are massive, and stupid....and thats not always a good mix lol.

 

[AliCat37]

The lady who was killed by the wolves was proven using DNA evidence on her body and on and in the wolves DNA of the wolves captured, hard to say that is arguable. Men have gone to prison on less evidence then that.

If DNA evidence proves that the wolves killed her, then the DNA evidence of the beef in my stomach proves that I killed a cow. DNA evidence only can prove that the wolves took part in consumption- there is no proof that they did or did not kill.

 

[BloodyBaroness]

I give this all a "meh."

It's Hollywood, they portray stuff wrong and blow things out of proportion all the time.

Do Piranha really do all the stuff they did in the movie? No.
Do sharks really do all the stuff Jaws did? No.
Cujo? No.
Octopus? No.
Snakes on a plane? No.
Black Sheep? No, but I do wish for an experiment in genetic engineering that turns harmless sheep into blood-thirsty killers so they terrorize sprawling New Zealand farms. I would appreciate the curve ball it would throw society.

Do all of the negative press from all of these movies blow over in a fraction of a second? Totally. The American movie audience has the attention span of a goldfish. Wolves!! ZOMG BAD! Next week: Frogs!! ZOMG BAD!

I just don't see where any of this is worth getting riled up over.

 

[AliCat37]

I just don't see where any of this is worth getting riled up over.

It's worth getting riled up over because wolves are currently fighting for their very existence. Oregon ranchers are trying to declare a state of emergency right now because they have 27 wolves (despite the fact that wolves account for less than one tenth of one percent of livestock deaths & they don't affect game harvest numbers), Idaho is trying to eliminate 90% of their wolves through aerial hunting, Wyoming is trying to have them shot on sight, Minnesota even took their wolves off the ESA and is now going down the same path as Idaho and Wyoming- all for a few lies and misconceptions about them that this movie is only exploiting, and many people who don't take the time to actually learn about wolves will take this as fact. Even the movie Jaws had lead to the deaths of millions of sharks a year, just because people think they are going to attack them.

 

[Allalaskan]

It's worth getting riled up over because wolves are currently fighting for their very existence. Oregon ranchers are trying to declare a state of emergency right now because they have 27 wolves (despite the fact that wolves account for less than one tenth of one percent of livestock deaths & they don't affect game harvest numbers), Idaho is trying to eliminate 90% of their wolves through aerial hunting, Wyoming is trying to have them shot on sight, Minnesota even took their wolves off the ESA and is now going down the same path as Idaho and Wyoming- all for a few lies and misconceptions about them that this movie is only exploiting, and many people who don't take the time to actually learn about wolves will take this as fact. Even the movie Jaws had lead to the deaths of millions of sharks a year, just because people think they are going to attack them.

They may be going extinct in some parts of the country, but I can assure you we have PLENTY here lol.

You may choose to disagree, that is fine but there was plenty of evidence that those wolves killed that woman whether you agree or not. If you choose to believe that an Apex predator will not kill you just because your human thats your choice, I live in a state where they are ALL OVER the place and have seen first hand there behavior.

The state of Alaska very much protects its wild life and does NOT take lightly to blaming an animal for the death of a human, if you choose not to believe the evidence then that is your choice.

Not to much more of a point to argue/debate this
Have a nice day