Cougars and Coyotes and Wolves OH MY!

[Westonium]

I cam across this paper written for the government, and it was so good at explaining how things got to be how they are now, and why so many people are in denial about the growing presence of those predators that I thought it deserved it's own thread.

Grabyour favorite beverage and read. Mentally replace the word "Kansas" with your state name. It most likely applies.
http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/noframe/q209.htm

 

[AKfish]

OK, I read the linked article. Good read. In general, I agree with many of the author's conclusions.

I grew up in South Dakota. Went to school in a little town on the banks of the Missouri River. Hunted and fished and did my very best to be Huck Finn and Davy Crockett in old cut-off jeans and holey tennis shoes.

Learned the difference between an old track and a fresh one. Shot prairie dogs at 500 yards and 27 mallards with 3 shots from my ol Browning 12 gauge!

Now I see bears (black and grizzly) every season (much more often than wolves) and have learned that they are not inherently, intrinsically more different than the critters I knew as a young boy.

My question to you is -- so what? The presence of coyotes, wolves, bears can be a problem for landowners. They'll kill and eat your pets. They'll kill and eat your cow, horse or pigs.

That's the price of doin' business! Sensible precautions like electic fences and managing your stock with a measure of common sense can help eliminate the many of the problems. Not all. Once and a while they'll get something when your a bit lax or your pet gets careless.

Couple of years ago a big ol' coyote kept tryin' to catch my lab or get her off the porch. She was smart enough to want back in the house when she knew he was out there. I seen him one time sneakin' down the power line clearing -- a couple of shots from my .270 and he never came back! (And no, I didn't kill him.)

Last summer my neighbor lost all his chickens, all his Bobwhite quail, chukars and a load of bunnies. Grizzlies (brown bears) got into everything and crushed his hen house and brooder building (literally flattened the buildings) that he raised the quail and chukars in. They darn near got the 4-H pigs and turkeys. But the electric fence stopped that action! Bears didn't pay any mind to the horses, either. They're smart enough to not want a broken jaw or worse... Wolves can be a different story but even they generally avoid horses unless he's old or hurt. Does my neighbor hate and fear every grizzly, now? Nope. He's more disgusted with himself that he didn't string up more elecritc fence around the birds and bunnies.

I like knowin' they're out and around. When my wife and I go for a walk and see grizzly bear tracks along the road --- which happens EVERY year --- should I run home and pull the shades??? Don't guess I will.

I've run black bears off by bangin' two pots together. I've whistled at wolves to get 'em to stop...

Man o' man. Ain't no wonder that WalMarts are takin' over the planet! Beyond grasshoppers and bacteria; human beings are the most numerous critter on the face of the planet!

Let's get rid of all those things that might bite, sting or bark at us. And God forbid -- eat little Foo-foo.

Then we can all sit in the parking lots starin' at each other and thinkin "WHAT A GOOD LIFE WE HAVE!"
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

AKfish

 

[AutoUnionTypeC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Man o' man. Ain't no wonder that WalMarts are takin' over the planet! Beyond grasshoppers and bacteria; human beings are the most numerous critter on the face of the planet!

Let's get rid of all those things that might bite, sting or bark at us. And God forbid -- eat little Foo-foo.

Then we can all sit in the parking lots starin' at each other and thinkin "WHAT A GOOD LIFE WE HAVE!"
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

AKfish)</font>

Classic!!!

 

[JoeR]

Our local state environmental group introduced coyotes into my state. They are not native here. Now the coyotes are killing other protected native species such as Gopher Tortoise. I think some extreme environmentalists won't be happy until humans are eradicated from the earth. (This is a general statement and is not directed at any individuals on this thread). These groups complain about humans, but some of their efforts cause problems too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BlueRidge]

<font color="blue"> I think some extreme environmentalists won't be happy until humans are eradicated from the earth. </font>

You don't need to "think" that - many of them have come right out and said so!

It would be nice if they would be consistent. Start with themselves!

 

[scesnick]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(

That's the price of doin' business!
Man o' man. Ain't no wonder that WalMarts are takin' over the planet! Beyond grasshoppers and bacteria; human beings are the most numerous critter on the face of the planet!

Let's get rid of all those things that might bite, sting or bark at us. And God forbid -- eat little Foo-foo.

Then we can all sit in the parking lots starin' at each other and thinkin "WHAT A GOOD LIFE WE HAVE!"
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

AKfish )</font>
I have had numerous confrontations with black bears and coyotes ( especially bears ) on my property. They like to try and kill my prue breed Morgan horses. I in turn, protect my property by using my opposable thumbs to load my firearm and use it accordingly. as stated " that is the price of doing business" (and Yes, I did kill it.) it was either him or my horse.
Actually, the mere fact that humans are the most numerous "critter' on the planet just goes to show that we are the supreme predator and the top dog on the food chain.
If it is just nature that the bears and coyotes eat "little Foo-Foo, then it is just nature that I, being the highest on the food chain, keep them from eating my pet by killing and eating them. It's pure nature. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[AKfish]

Yup, I shoot critters, too. When they need shootin'. I generally try to be sensible when I pick up my gun. Try not to over-react. Or manufacture a threat when there really isn't a threat.

I hunt from horses. In grizzly bear and wolf and coyote and lynxx country. At night, in camp, we turn the horses loose. Been times when the horses run off. Horses up there for days or weeks. Look for 'em with planes and other riders. Can't remember when one of them was killed by a bear or wolf. They come home on their own accord. (They get hobbled or staked the next time, though).

I eat the things I shoot and hook. Guess that puts me on the top of the food chain. Wouldn't want it any other way...

Got dead animal horns on my walls and picture books with smiling happy faces and barbeque grill fixin's with the hair or scales still on 'em!!

Life should be lived with eyes wide, mouth open, arms stretched out tip to tip and running as fast as one can go to take it all in!

Not fussin' and fritteren' about scary animals that "shouldn't be livin' where I live 'cause --- well, by God --- I live here and they gotta die."

Nope, the scariest and most frightening thing I can envision is no longer havin' enough critters and fish and fowl to shoot and hook or look at. Yup, all there is --- is some few; grassy, tree "islands" or hot, scrub enclaves or rocky mountain tops where folk's come to see what's left... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

When I was a boy growing up; there was something like 220-30 million people in the U.S. I believe we're over 300 million now. That's 70-80 million more people in my 50+ years. Whew... it's mind boggling!

Immigration is a hot button issue--- Millions of acres of the most productive land have been absorbed by the growth of cities and suburbs.

I have been blessed with a life made fuller by all the critters around me and my family. The thought of not seeing a grizzly bear or a coyote sneaking over the ridge would mean a life "less alive"!

My youngest son knows and understands the ruckus and plaintive sounds that his chicken's make when they're cowering in the thickest trees and the Goshawk is out and about. One of these days; she'll get one of 'em (unless he finishes their pen)!

If she does --- don't expect I'll have the shotgun mounted on my tractor. And if a bear should get one of my registered Quarter horses -- don't expect that I'll be packin' my .338 over my shoulder, either. (Now, if he keeps comin' back thinkin' my place is the corner deli --- well, he won't be leavin' in the same shape he showed up in...)

I'm grateful to share my space and fear the day when there won't be enough critters around to worry about them "bein' where they shouldn't BE"!

Or the day when my son or grandson won't have any use for a rod and reel or shotgun and rifle 'cause there ain't enough fish, fowl or fur critters around, anymore and what few are left are "PROTECTED". /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

'Nuff beatin' that dead horse! AKfish

 

[AKfish]

Yup, I shoot critters, too. When they need shootin'. I generally try to be sensible when I pick up my gun. Try not to over-react. Or manufacture a threat when there really isn't a threat.

I hunt from horses. In grizzly bear and wolf and coyote and lynxx country. At night, in camp, we turn the horses loose. Been times when the horses run off. Horses up there for days or weeks. Look for 'em with planes and other riders. Can't remember when one of them was killed by a bear or wolf. They come home on their own accord. (They get hobbled or staked the next time, though).

I eat the things I shoot and hook. Guess that puts me on the top of the food chain. Wouldn't want it any other way...

Got dead animal horns on my walls and picture books with smiling happy faces and barbeque grill fixin's with the hair or scales still on 'em!!

Life should be lived with eyes wide, mouth open, arms stretched out tip to tip and running as fast as one can go to take it all in!

Not fussin' and fritteren' about scary animals that "shouldn't be livin' where I live 'cause --- well, by God --- I live here and they gotta die."

Nope, the scariest and most frightening thing I can envision is no longer havin' enough critters and fish and fowl to shoot and hook or look at. Yup, all there is --- is some few; grassy, tree "islands" or hot, scrub enclaves or rocky mountain tops where folk's come to see what's left... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

When I was a boy growing up; there was something like 220-30 million people in the U.S. I believe we're over 300 million now. That's 70-80 million more people in my 50+ years. Whew... it's mind boggling!

Immigration is a hot button issue--- Millions of acres of the most productive land have been absorbed by the growth of cities and suburbs.

I have been blessed with a life made fuller by all the critters around me and my family. The thought of not seeing a grizzly bear or a coyote sneaking over the ridge would mean a life "less alive"!

My youngest son knows and understands the ruckus and plaintive sounds that his chicken's make when they're cowering in the thickest trees and the Goshawk is out and about. One of these days; she'll get one of 'em (unless he finishes their pen)!

If she does --- don't expect I'll have the shotgun mounted on my tractor. And if a bear should get one of my registered Quarter horses -- don't expect that I'll be packin' my .338 over my shoulder, either. (Now, if he keeps comin' back thinkin' my place is the corner deli --- well, he won't be leavin' in the same shape he showed up in...)

I'm grateful to share my space and fear the day when there won't be enough critters around to worry about them "bein' where they shouldn't BE"!

Or the day when my son or grandson won't have any use for a rod and reel or shotgun and rifle 'cause there ain't enough fish, fowl or fur critters around, anymore and what few are left are "PROTECTED". /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

'Nuff beatin' that dead horse! AKfish

 

[shvl73]

Well Said!

 

[shvl73]

Well Said!