READERS COMMENTS

Having been to Isle Royale and Very Fortunate to have seen the Both, a Bull and a cow moose and starving timber wolves. On my first visit I'd have to disagree. Wolves when hungry will try to attack but will not always be successfull. Large animals such a moose will not always be caught and most likely not than will. So the balance is a natural. The reintroduction of the Wolf in Mid west is taking off be cause of the large populations of Mule and whitetail deer the herds are the largest ever in part of regulated hunting season and management by humans. Wolves are opputinistic and taking rabbits and other varments that aswell at large numbers overwellming there eviornments aswell. The wolf is only catching up to meet the availability of prey.
Posted: Nov 14, 2008 Carm

nice idea's but the real facts are.
1) there is never no "balance" between predator/prey with out human involvement. one is always thriving while the other is in decline. only proper management by humans, can any consistence and long term balance be attained.
2)i always like the pretty picture that wolves kill the weak, the young, and the lame. this idea has also never proven. in fact all predators are opportunist. they kill when they can and are able to. and never thinking to themselves this animal is to healthy to kill and eat. as far as Peterson's observations on the weakest moose being killed. this according to the graph.moose have never regained half of their normal populations.(the last 12yrs.)where as the wolves have done nothing but increase since the very early 90's. so much for that breeding idea.
3)Peterson and other like him or maybe the author of this article don't want you to know or tell you. the HORRIBLE deaths of either the predator/prey. when their populations are crashing or at bottom. they die a death of starvation! and disease. this is not a quick death but a prolong death of weeks and months. of hunger and weakness and towards the end of painful,excursion death their motor skills fail. how healthy is that for the eco-sys.
4)humans have to be involved in the eco-sys. if you want "balance"? i also believe very strongly that if you want a "balance" predator/prey sys. you must control both populations. threw game management plans. that mean game will have to harvested. this is a "natural balance". where all vegetation and wildlife thrive with very moderate fluctuation in their populations. verses the peaks and valleys and most of time take years and years of recovery that may never occur to historical populations.
we are suppose to be the the intelligent ones. and be the stewards of the land and animals.
Posted: Nov 09, 2008 isnarewolves

I somewhat agree open up to a few(charge a hefty fee for a tag) but more importantly they should also reintroduce the wolves, this was very succesful in yellowstone, and it changes the animals behaviors to a more natural one and makes the elk, deer , etc heathier
Posted: Nov 08, 2008 gun guy

Well the NPS could open up these parks to a few hunters and help the control the population. Few hunters selected closed park days and harvest some animals and donate the meat to food banks, and feed the people of this country. But, its a crazy idea, hunting and thousands of years of human survival skills go to waste. With animal populations exploding and enviromental destruction abound. There is always a cause and effect, one animal grows and pushes another out of the way.
Posted: Nov 07, 2008 Carm

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