David Yearous
3/11/11
Wolves in Wisconsin
The timber wolf once ranged throughout the state of Wisconsin but as settlers moved into Wisconsin the wolf was seen as a threat to livestock. This perspective on wolves led to their demise in the state, where a bounty was soon placed on wolves and they were eradicated by 1959. The Minnesota wolf population was allowed to expand into Northern Wisconsin and now the timber wolf ranges throughout northern Wisconsin.
I believe that the wolf population should be encouraged to prosper in the state and that the wolf should remain on the DNR’s list of animals to keep an eye on and track throughout the state. Wolves making a comeback would be a good thing for the state because it would keep a balance between coyotes and wolves and the wolf is a natural predator of prey that are too large for a coyote to take on. Since the wolf has been missing the coyote population has flourished. The two predators share some prey species and having wolves back on the landscape gives the coyote some competition. The wolf’s return also will help keep the deer population from getting out of hand as well. The deer population also needs to be kept in check especially with the prevalence of CWD and the deadliness of the disease. By thinning the deer herd the spread of CWD would slow since there are fewer animals to be infected with. Having wolves back on the landscape means the return of the days when there was a larger diversity of predators. Farmers have the right to be scared of wolves attacking their livestock but wolves typically attack the weak animals or the calves, I understand the farmers concern with the well-being of the cattle but as I drive throughout the countryside in the spring the calves stick with their mothers. If you have ever had to deal with livestock and separating the cow and calf; even if it is for a short time the mother is very defensive and will attack the farmer, so even though the animals have been domesticated their natural instincts are still alive and well. With this argument I believe that may there be some attacks on livestock they will not be frequent enough to lose a considerable amount of cattle. I am also certain that there is a program that will compensate farmers for their loss, if a wolf were to attack cattle. Livestock have lived with wolves in the past and they can live with wolves in the future. The state could also be used as a platform for really understanding how wolves can change a landscape. Since the wolves have been gone for a length of time the other animals have become accustomed to not having a wolf’s presence and now that they have returned there would a before and after snapshot of the state with wolves and without. This could make for an interesting research project and make a collection of information that would tell us a lot about wolves and their importance.
http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/skala/Wisconsin-Timber-Wolve.htm
3 comments:
I totally agree with this.
You hit a lot of the major points in the argument. One aspect you didn't look at was their effect on vegetation. They cut down on the deer population, and in turn, plants have the opportunity to flourish because they aren't being chowed down on so much.
Their beauty and power need to be respected, not feared. And while the old superstitions and what not prevail, the wolves should still be kept as an endangered species.
I also agree with what you are saying David. The one thing that I was a little confused on was the coyote to wolf ratios and how they affect one another. I do believe that with more wolves around the coyote population will go down a little, but not by much. Coyotes are smart and they prey mostly on smaller animals such as grouse, rabbits, and fawns.
I also agree with what you said about the farmers and their calf's. The wolves will kill some of the livestock, but not a huge amount. The farmers will probably be compensated.
Wolf numbers are way higher than the goals that were set by the people that put them on Endangered List. They need to be delisted so the state can handle problem wolves and not the responsibiliy of teh federal government. Management should also be looked at as a tool for controling and maintaining a healthy population in the state.
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