The myth of the harmless wolf was spread by well meaning proto-environmentalists rightfully concerned about their near extinction in the mid-20th century but has taken on a life of its own among the anti-humanist green movement that views wolves not as the large predators they are, but as some sort of symbol of their reverence for nature.
Thus, even when thriving wolf populations are a threat to the lives and traditions of humans the pro-wolf movement has worked to block common sense wildlife management strategies like hunting and trapping seasons that would both maintain a healthy wolf population while discouraging wolves from losing their fear of humans. In Wisconsin they have been successful in blocking hunting and trapping and wolves have become aggressive as humans relate to the animals not as predators but as prey.
From The Wall Street Journal:
HARRISON, Wis. — David Schoone, a farmer in this lush region of northern Wisconsin, says a lone gray wolf sneaked up on his school-age daughter three years ago as she bounced on a trampoline in his backyard.
More recently, Mr. Schoone was chased into his pickup truck by a wolf, and his cousin’s wife had to run from two wolves that descended on her from opposite sides of a shed. This month, he lost two young steer to wolves.
“We gotta watch all the time,” said Mr. Schoone, 43 years old, who carries a loaded rifle when he works in his fields or goes for a walk, even though he can only legally shoot a wolf in the act of attacking a human. “They don’t show any fear of us.”
The article goes on to show that wolf hunting has been blocked largely by people who have no conception of Nature. And the people who live within nature, who are truly a part of it, suffer:
Wolves occupy just 5% of their range in the lower 48 states before the U.S. was settled, said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the U.S. “The only reason these hunters are clamoring to trap and hunt wolves is for the thrill of getting a trophy,” he said.
People in Harrison, a green swath of hills, farms, woods and lakes ringed with summer cabins 200 miles north of Madison, tend to disagree.
“We hate them,” said John Bailey, chairman of the town of 850 and owner of Bailey’s Town and Country bar. He said wolves have reduced the deer population, a major source of income from visiting hunters. In addition to Mr. Schoone’s cattle losses, Mr. Bailey said another farmer recently lost two pregnant cows and a dog to wolves. He said he had heard stories of people being stalked. “I’m really concerned about it, especially small children,” he said.
[…]
Laurie Groskopf is one. The 58-year-old part-time wildlife technician for the state lost a Walker hound named Morgan during the training season for bear hunting last summer. Morgan was tracking a bear when she was attacked by wolves that killed and ate most of the dog in a few minutes, said Mike Hagen, 66, who lives with Ms. Groskopf.
Ms. Groskopf has won the support of the governing boards of six counties for a resolution calling on the state to cut Wisconsin’s wolf population to 350 from 700. Mr. Wydeven said a scientific board recently recommended maintaining the wolf population at 375 to 625.
Ms. Groskopf and Mr. Hagen live mostly on meat they hunt and fruit and vegetables they grow. They make their own wine in a large vat in their kitchen and store potatoes by burying them in the yard.
The couple now has to drive more than an hour from home to find places where wolves haven’t caused problems yet to hunt for raccoons, coyotes, bobcats and bear. Mr. Hagen also has family land where he hunts for deer, but wolves have greatly reduced the deer stock there, he said.
The wolves’ arrival has “changed our whole life,” Ms. Groskopf said after offering a visitor a taste of wine and bear stew. “It’s a thrill to see them,” she added, “but they need to live in a place where they can be at peace and people can, too.”
Wisconsin isn’t the only state where greens want to reintroduce wolves into a predation free environment and the results will be the same. Outdoor Life has a gruesome series of photos of a wolf killing a deer. It is widely assumed wolves kill like big cats, who take game by getting a hold of it’s neck and suffocating it before eating. Not so. Wolves simply tear off chunks of the victim and eat while the victim is alive. Packs do so much damage that the process is quick. In this photo series, not so much. If you’re in the “I love wolves” camp I suggest looking at this photo set.
The problem here is how do you protect yourself from these huge animals if you aren’t really allowed to shoot them? I’m no expert but I think here’s where bear spray may be the solution, both in the short term for defense if you’re hiking through wolf territory, and long term as packs learn to associate humans with painful blasts of burning chemical spray.
Check your local laws and be wary in the woods. Nature is cruel as well as beautiful, and our green movement makes it more dangerous everyday.
h/t Survival Blog
