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Wolves in Utah

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franklin

Well-Known Member
How do you feel about them? They haven't officially been recognized yet, but plenty of people have pictures and spottings. Personally, I think there is no natural need; humans are plenty competent at culling the herds. We manage them already.

The reason I bring this up now:

IMG_2606[1].jpg


I found that yesterday about 10 miles above Kamas. That's getting pretty deep into Utah and well away from seclusion. There is a minute chance that print is not a wolf, but considering it was not accompanied by any human or horse print on a very wide trail, coming down the trial not up, it's most likely not some extremely large lost dog. It's not a cougar either. It left 1/2 to 3/4 inch claw marks. Cougars don't leave those.
 
I thought the DWR has confirmed wolves in Utah.

I worked with a guy who says he saw one. And this isn't some blowhard who would just make **** up to look cool.
 
They are definitely here. I have heard a lot of people claim they were never fully gone from the Uintah range. Both my dad and grandpa claim to have seen them whole on horse pack trips. I have only ever seen them in south east idaho and Yellowstone. They say there is an established pack up near monte Cristo.

I think they are good. There is a little more to them than just culling the herds. They also provide biodiversity and help the rest if the ecosystem become stronger. I'm a little bit opposed to them being on the south slope of the Uintah where a tin of people spend their weekends, but I spend a lot of time outside in the Jackson Hole area and I have yet to be eaten by a wolf, or even see one in Wyoming other than in Yellowstone.

I met a guy this past summer who claims he has killed over 60 wolves in the last two years on his ranch outside of Jackson. Pretty crazy.
 
franklin said:
How do you feel about them? They haven't officially been recognized yet, but plenty of people have pictures and spottings. Personally, I think there is no natural need; humans are plenty competent at culling the herds. We manage them already.

The reason I bring this up now:

View attachment 4497


I found that yesterday about 10 miles above Kamas. That's getting pretty deep into Utah and well away from seclusion. There is a minute chance that print is not a wolf, but considering it was not accompanied by any human or horse print on a very wide trail, coming down the trial not up, it's most likely not some extremely large lost dog. It's not a cougar either. It left 1/2 to 3/4 inch claw marks. Cougars don't leave those.
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I think there should be wolves in the woods. I think it's a tragedy they were exterminated in the first place.

I don't think people are "plenty competent at culling herds". Wolves and human hunters have different targets. Wolves select the weak for slaughter. We select the strong.

Further we aren't very good at controlling coyotes. Wolves are. This could be good for grouse populations. Wolves control large territories and they do not put up with large numbers of coyotes.
 
♪alt13 said:
I don't think people are "plenty competent at culling herds". Wolves and human hunters have different targets. Wolves select the weak for slaughter. We select the strong.
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Buh huh huh whole ****. When was the last rifle hunt you went on? They blast anything that moves. Only the strong and cunning avoid the Ott Six.


♪alt13 said:
Further we aren't very good at controlling coyotes. Wolves are. This could be good for grouse populations. Wolves control large territories and they do not put up with large numbers of coyotes.
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Good point. I still don't see a need for them. We can kill coyotes for much less than the price of cattle lost to wolves.
 
The concept of Trophic Cascade seems to be of significance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q

It depends on what you're looking at. If you're looking at your cattle, maybe we should be hunting these things back to extinction. If you're looking at hunting deer, you should be happy for more wolves(as your take will be larger, and in better health.. wolves don't usually kill strong deer). If you're looking at wildlife and nature viewing, maybe we need more laws protecting them.
 
It's really weird that you are known for your mountains but you are yet to start talking about the existence of the wolves. If they are migrating to your mountains, best of luck to you. Keep your eyes open and don't wonder off too deep.
 
ElRoach0 said:
The concept of Trophic Cascade seems to be of significance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q

It depends on what you're looking at. If you're looking at your cattle, maybe we should be hunting these things back to extinction. If you're looking at hunting deer, you should be happy for more wolves(as your take will be larger, and in better health.. wolves don't usually kill strong deer). If you're looking at wildlife and nature viewing, maybe we need more laws protecting them.
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Cool video. I wonder how much of what it says is true. It sounds plausible, but feels a bit overstated, especially given the timeframe.
 
ElRoach0 said:
The concept of Trophic Cascade seems to be of significance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q

It depends on what you're looking at. If you're looking at your cattle, maybe we should be hunting these things back to extinction. If you're looking at hunting deer, you should be happy for more wolves(as your take will be larger, and in better health.. wolves don't usually kill strong deer). If you're looking at wildlife and nature viewing, maybe we need more laws protecting them.
Click to expand...


If you think the only way wolves kill deer/elk/moose/animals is through actually catching and eating them...well...you're off a bit.
 
My favorite groups are the people in Idaho and Wyoming who think all the elk and moose are going extinct because wolves are back. What about all the millions of years those wolves were here before humans?
 
Howard said:
If you think the only way wolves kill deer/elk/moose/animals is through actually catching and eating them...well...you're off a bit.
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You should be for wolves in Utah and Colorado. Greater overall numbers will lead to less protection/restriction. Would you rather Montana, Idaho, Wyoming support wolf populations on their own? Think about it
 
b_line said:
My favorite groups are the people in Idaho and Wyoming who think all the elk and moose are going extinct because wolves are back. What about all the millions of years those wolves were here before humans?
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Different species of wolves this go around. I agree though, they won't go extinct. You also have to consider that the elk/moose numbers were much higher when people weren't around too.

I don't like wolves bc they kill cattle, and ranchers can't hardly do a damn thing (legally) to protect them, and they don't get reimbursed that well either.
 
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