.[/url] .[url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/nation-world/2019/04/19/wolf-population-declining/]

Saw the article this morning. The reasons for the decline are given as disease (mange, distemper, parvo), wolf on wolf mortality, and packs moving out of the park. These are all the natural consequence of the overpopulation that results when you reintroduce a predator where it has not existed for an extended period of time. At first there is plenty of prey and little competition. The living is easy and the predator population soars. The prey population drops and competition gets tough. Health declines among the remaining population making them more susceptible to disease and interspecies battles for territory costs lives. Territorial pressure pushes some out in search of greener pastures. This is what should happen and is what should have been expected to happen. Regardless, I expect the city living wolf lovers to use the report to make another push against allowing state wildlife agencies to control wolf populations outside the park

Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

They will blame it on climate change because.

Interesting but time will tell. I see many other problems that will come with that.

Heard on the news a wildlife organization is suing the Fish and wildlife for not putting wolves and grizzly bear in other states like California. Hope they do so they can enjoy the loss of wildlife, mauling's and restrictions.

Where is that like button lol

Interestingly,the statewide.Montana wolf take has been increasing.It used to be a little over 200 and this year it was just a few wolves under 300.

^ true …. don't know if things are true or not any more.

No they just migrated there on there own no such thing as re-introduction

They ate themselves out of house and home and are paying the price for it. This kind of thing happens to wolf populations where ever they are found, reintroduced or not.
Prey populations will rebound after the wolf population hits the bottom of the curve. Once the prey numbers rebound, wolves will follow suit.

I'd like to see them stock a couple thousand wolves and the same number griz in Washington, DC

Garry-

Well if Yellowstone needs more wolfs, I guess we could spare a few more for them like we did in the first place.......

Just wish the feds HAD used Mn wolves for their reintroduction. They did use Athabascans(I got to see them when all were in holding pens) and some think that those genetics may have contributed to the large packs and severe predation on large prey that followed.

For those that haven’t been to Yellowstone, pre wolves you had to literally drive around the elk, walk around the elk, they were everywhere. Giant bulls would be standing at the entrance to many of the shops and restaurants. Elk and elk turds were a a absolutely everywhere. Went a couple years ago and stayed for days in the backcountry and drove around seeing the sights...8, we saw a grand total of 8 elk the entire stay in the park. Before wolves you could expect to see hundreds and not even try.

I wonder if the wooves are affecting the bison population? Last time I was there the bison were doing a number on the trees, rubbing the bark off the trees and killing them.

I have always been told that the wolves had been transplanted from Minnesota. Interesting, but the offer still stands!

We did see lots of buffalo. It was breeding season and got to witness a battle royal between bulls at about 50 yards. Undoubtedly wolves get some but I can’t say I noticed on the scale of the elk. And the elk herd needed trimmed down but it’s been drastic.

Problem is they took credit for the improvements in the park because of the wolves but they will find something else to blame when the time comes to do anything about it when they are out of control. It was a unmanaged environment that could of been managed better but is managed by the extremes nature will put on it now.

cohunt, what makes you think MN wolves don't effect large prey populations? They are wolves, not the puppies PETA says they are.

http://news.dnr.state.mn.us/2019/03...moose-population-remains-low-but-stable/

From that story:
Survey results indicate that calf survival from birth in spring to January continues to be relatively stable but consistently low. Field studies have indicated that survival rates are even lower by spring, translating to low numbers of moose calves living through their first year.

The DNR’s detailed field research has shown that wolf predation has consistently accounted for about two-thirds of the calf mortality and one-third of the adult mortality. In some cases, injuries suffered during predation attempts – not the predation itself – ultimately killed the adult moose. In others, sickness or disease likely made the adult moose more vulnerable to predation.

Wolves were killed off years ago, with very good reason. The reintroduction into Yellowstone was to appease the animal rights meat heads. Now some of these mental midgets are talking about cloning creatures from the dinosaur age.Look at the negative affects now on wildlife, surrounding ranches and states. I hope all of those wolves end up on fur stretchers.