Wolf Frenzy

Wolf Frenzy

Roaming through the woods is an activity a lot of people enjoy throughout northern Idaho and Montana, but more and more people are reporting being threatened by the wildlife. Recently there has been various occasions where wolves have been witnessed "stalking" humans as if they were prey. Since the reinstatement of Wolves in Northwest America the wolf population is growing and the packs are spreading throughout Idaho creating conflict with farmers, big game, and hunters.

After the reintroduction of wolves in 1995 and 1996 in the Northwest farmers have been harassed and upset about the behavior the wolves have. Not only have the wolves killed cattle, but also dogs, sheep, and other farm animals. The farmers have finally stirred up enough dust to instate a new wolf management rule known as the 10(j). The 10(j) gives the farmers or employees the authority to kill any wolves that are seen attacking, biting, chasing, harassing, or molesting livestock or other farm animals. For the most part this new rule clears up the conflict with farmers and wolves, but the problem is that it does not give farmers the right to kill the wolves unless there is proof that the wolves were misbehaving. Even though this new rule was created, it still does not protect farmer's cattle as well as before the wolves were reintroduced (Idaho).

One big aspect that people fear is the major loss of big game due to new predators. Having at least seven hundred new wolves in Idaho means that there will be a huge decline in elk as well as deer. In Yellowstone elk have changed behavior in order to stay away from the wolves. The research said, "Data from Yellowstone indicate elk have learned to avoid areas frequently used by wolves such as valley or ridge top trails, opting instead for areas with greater cover and security" (Idaho). So now the wolves are pushing the big game herds into more covered areas as well as decreasing the population.

Even though the wolves are changing big game's behaviors hunters have way more to worry about. Recently there have been multiply occasions of wolves harassing humans, but it never makes it to the public. In Idaho's Farm Bureau Quarterly, Sean Ellis writes about the current status on how wolves are behaving in circumstances involving humans and recent mishaps involving wolves. Ellis tells a story about a man named Woodbridge that was being stalked while horn hunting and how he escaped. Woodbridge, being scared for his life said, "There is no doubt in my mind they were going to kill me." Woodbridge believes that the only thing that saved him was when the wolves saw his pickup after he had ran from them. Throughout Ellis's whole argument at the end he gives a perfect example of what is happening to the wolves in Idaho and Montana. He says, " The common theme was that they have been fed and lost their fear of humans" (Too Close 3).

A similar occasion took place in Troy, Idaho; about a ten minute drive from Moscow. Amber Granlund also reported to the Quarterly and now takes a completely different opinion on the situation with wolves in Idaho. She was just out in her yard watching her niece, son, and her son's friend when a wolf came out of the timber behind her house and took their dog from between her and the kids. What really scared Amber was that the dog had only been outside for about thirty seconds before the wolf took it. That means that the wolf, or wolves, had been watching the children closely before Amber let the dog out. Many people think that occasions like this are rare and should not be taken seriously, but it is happening more and more often as the wolf packs grow and spread further throughout Idaho and Montana (Too Close 3,8).

Wolves have made a big commotion lately with their rising numbers and how much control they have developed. A positive outlook is that soon the wolves will be taken off of the endangered species list. Once the wolves are off the list there has already been discussion on a

hunting season for the wolves and a set tag