Wolves in Illinois

READERS COMMENTS

Unless we (people) were created by someone diferent then the rabbits deer and wloves were created by then we are in the same balance and food chain as they. As far as i know people are the only predetors of wolves which give us a hard dissicion to make. If you step back and look at people as another animal in the chain of nature then it only makes sense for us to control the populations of other peredetors. With this thought in mind when walking in a natural area why is it that that is a wolfs home and not a persons not all people choose to live in populated areas. just some food for thought for some that may think that they have seen it all.
Posted: Feb 06, 2012 Anonymous

I have been living in IL most of my life and not once have a ever seen a wolf and i live out in the country surronded by woods and corn fields. a few years back during the summer one night i heard some howling then i heard more go along together, i'm guessing atleast 4 maybe 5. they were wolves cause i've heard coyotes plenty of times and they yelp, i go to texas every year and visit the ranches my families own and i hear coyoytes there as well so it lets me know they are around. i havent heard them since that night so i'm sure they just keep moving along in search of food. i hope there back
Posted: Nov 21, 2011 Roy R.

Posted: Nov 21, 2011 Roy R.

im from southern illinois my brother and i saw one chasing deer then my mom almost hit one we beleave thier wolves becouse thier to big to be coyouts.
Posted: Jul 18, 2011 jojo

I was heading south on lagrange rd south of 55 I spotted 2 dogs first thought husky, but as i got closer they turned out to be a dirty grey color then it hit me they were wolves, a pair of them no collar or human presence on or around them. early march 2010 saw them running through the woods out there!
Posted: May 11, 2010 wolf mystery

opinions are like scrotums
Posted: Mar 29, 2010 Anonymous

I'm with the guy that said bring on the wolves & thin out us dumbass Europeans let the Indians take over!! I mean how did people screw everything up in only 200,000 yrs.
Posted: Mar 28, 2010 Nick

Lets set the story strait. We introduced a larger, faster wolf into Yellowstone. The packs we introduced killed two packs of gray wolfs that we didn't know were there. To late to change that I know. Anyways, these larger wolves have there way with the moose and elk down here. These wolves are used to chasing caribou in Canada. Caribou are much faster and have a chance against the wolves. Don't get me wrong I am not against having wolves. I have seen them on some hikes and they are majestic and amazing. I do however believe in being a good steward of this earth. The wolves helped to bring things in balance with herds but are now growing to fast themselves. I believe it is good land management to have controlled hunts. This will keep the packs at the appropriate size and the Elk, and Moose herds healthy and in large enough numbers for all of us to enjoy without hurting nature. And reader that suggested that we let the animals hunt us, come on. I think we can all agree no one wants to see their two year old hunted by a wolf while they are on a hike. Think before you type.
Posted: Mar 28, 2010 KirkW

I say that wolves are cool and they were here first, but the reality of the situation is that they need to be regulated. Yes, in Yellowstone everything is going back to normal now, that is a great thing. Wolves are not the same as Coyotes, Living and hunting in packs and are much bolder than the smaller lone coyote's.
Posted: Mar 26, 2010 jeff

I think we should keep bringing the wolves in until they start hunting man that would help reduce our population! I hope the wild animals get pissed off and start hunting humans. We deserve it after all the beautiful animals and land we've destroyed.
Posted: Mar 26, 2010 GregR

I live in Alaska, a state where wolves are commmon in some areas. The recent incident which involved a jogger being killed by wolves in a remote village was indeed unfortunate. Her father was interviewed, and despite his sadness over the tragedy, he expressed an understanding of the sometimes dangerous relationship between humans and wolves.
As with any decision regarding predator control, there are two sides. AK DF&G recently began aerial killing of wolves as a plan to reduce the wolf populations and bring back declining numbers of moose. How effective? Who knows. Hopefully there will still be wolves around so my grandson can enjoy seeing one of nature's truly wild and awesome creatures...
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 TS in AK

Jim,

I've been to Isle Royale a couple of times - and there is a fantastic website dedicated to the study of the moose and wolves there:

http://www.isleroyalewolf.org/wolfhome/home.html

Odd are high that you won't see one - it's pretty rare - but if you are camping on one of the inland lakes (Hatchet Lake for me) you might hear them howling!
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 Steve

Jim,

I've been to Isle Royale a couple of times - and there is a fantastic website dedicated to the study of the moose and wolves there:

http://www.isleroyalewolf.org/wolfhome/home.html

Odd are high that you won't see one - it's pretty rare - but if you are camping on one of the inland lakes (Hatchet Lake for me) you might hear them howling!
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 Steve

Kill all wolves? You are an idiot, plain and simple. Look at Yellowstone. As soon as the wolves were re-introduced the ecosystem was back in balance. Wolves are neccesary and important for keeping herds healthy. If you are so afraid to hike, then don't. No one wants someone like you around anyway. They were here first, you are in their home.
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 Matt

This reintroduction of wolves need to be managed more efficiently. The wolf population in and around Wyoming is at what the highly trained officials are calling "saturation point". This means that the wolf population here is at and beyond the maximum, and the wolves are killing each other to make room. This scenario will soon be the case in other states as the wolves are forced to move on. Treat them as any other big game animal is treated - open a season to control the population. If a wolf is shot out of season, charge a large poaching fee.
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 Brandon in WY

Kill all wolves? You are an idiot, plain and simple. Look at Yellowstone. As soon as the wolves were re-introduced the ecosystem was back in balance. Wolves are neccesary and important for keeping herds healthy. If you are so afraid to hike, then don't. No one wants someone like you around anyway. They were here first, you are in their home.
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 Matt

I am planning a backpacking trip to Isle Royale (Michigan) in July. I only hope and pray that I DO see some wolves in the wild. I would understand that I am in THEIR world when I take the ferry across from Copper Harbor. I'll say hello to them, then give a huge, loud toot on my safety whistle, and if that doesn't do it (and scare the bah-jesus out of them), I guess my time has come, and nature will take its course. But I will understand that it is THEIR world, not mine. And that I am a visitor there, sharing the land. I think the odds are in my favor since the ocurrance of wolf attacks are very slim, and boy scout troops regularly hike Isle Royale. Why have we not heard of any tasty boy scouts becoming meals for wolves?

I think the guy that shot the wolf should be prosecuted. It is a shame he gets to walk away, now with a story to tell all his buddies, and zero accountability.
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 Jim H

I'm from Mexico and I usually travel to the states for some alone hiking. When I hike I have a constant fear of being attacked (I've been charged by animals before) but that will never mean that animals have to pay for my paranoia, if in the end I got attacked and killed, I was the one who put myself in THEIR territory...killing animals to make it "safer" for everyone sounds to me like a typical american comment (not to generalize, but some stupid americans give smart americans a bad name...) let's wipe out some country so we can safely drive our vans to soccer practice without fear of a missile falling on my city...and yet every day driving is a more real danger than wild animals.

I say, let mother nature do her thing. GO WOLVES!
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 Wolfgang

Not sure what you believe, but we are not the visitors. All was created by God, and man was given dominion over ever living thing. We are suppose to be taking care of everything. Looks like we might be failing God AGAIN. As man has tamed much of the wild we need to keep it in balance. Here's where it gets tricky. The farmers need to protect their livelihood, and yet how much is too much. Balance....we do a poor job of balancing. Let's hope some day we can get it right. In the case of deer for instance, if the population get too large they can become diseased and die, so which is more humane and right, let them die of starvation and disease, a slow and torturous death or to allow hunting and perhaps natural predators. Good point in that they covered much of the US as opposed to the thinking of merely where they are now. We often only look past our noses and not much further. I could go on but...
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 Nick

"Kill all the wolves"? Is it the wolves that are a danger to the hiker or the hiker that's the danger to the wolves? Who was here first?

I pray they find their way into Illinois and over into Indiana. Our deer population could use a little thinning out.
Posted: Mar 25, 2010 R.J.

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