We tend to look at one side of the ecological issue. We spend a lot of time, resources and debate on working to manage prey/predator relationships. There is merit in doing that but we many times forget that predator numbers and expansion are more based on prey numbers while prey numbers relate way more to habitat. I don't know the differences in how boreal forests ecosystems succeed or tundra but I live in a very diverse area where the southern deciduous forest ecosystem meets the northern deciduous/pin ecoystem and our ecosystems are continually changing and some times very rapidly. I tend to agree that in our area of high diversity we can manage prey numbers and predators because most of the land area is quite heavily populated and managed for rotation. What many forget is that habitat in areas like northern WI have matured significantly over the last two generations. much of the second growth timber in northern WI is now about 100 years old and unless managed or routinely logged etc. it is way past its prey carrying capacity prime. During that time we have seen a significant predator population expansion, with bears, bobcats, wolves and now coyotes again learning to live with the larger canines. We may have passed our critical mass numbers for say deer in much of that area. All those species mentioned are becoming much more used to humans and human activity and thus have moved to the areas where humans maintain a diversity of land useage that draws prey and thus predators. The prey carrying capacity in the lower 2/3ds of WI is probably twice per acre that it is in the north. Which means we can and do have high prey numbers which over time are attracting predators. When we get bears and wolves living in our large wildlife areas like the Sheboygan Marsh, Kill Snake, Collins, Coburn, the major river lowlands we won't be able to remove them easily if at all.
I don't feel we need to eliminate wolves but by putting harvest seasons on them we change their behavior just by doing so. We also then need lethal dispatch on depredation animals. I hope we can get a season for wolves that would last say 5- 7 years, regardless of the quota numbers so we can get a lot more accurate count of numbers, numbers of pack, distribution and new areas of growth. Whether we like it or not we need data from the science and research segment of our DNR and we need to fund that so that those numbers can be used by the NRB board and our political and administrative sectors.
Bryce
a great quote using logic and common sense vs the typical "kill them all" posts.
a couple of points here
As far as we don't need wolves to manage prey because man can do it. While partially true the trouble is man isn't managing prey right now. I live in the southern 1/2 of the state. Lots of deer, lots of private land, very little public land and most of the private is off limits to hunting. This plus what ever other factors there might result in there are too many deer. There is no desire to get the herd to a sustainable level in line with the environment. Even if there was it would take drastic changes in how they are managed to make it happen around here.
To Boco's point that wolves are beneficial to the environment. He's absolutely right.
Food is plentiful most times of the year with lots of farm fields around, but come late winter thru early summer when all this crop land is nothing but snow or bare dirt there is very high pressure to browse anything and everything else. The deer here negatively effect the environment. White Oak saplings are exceedingly rare, pretty much nonexistent. Poor management of the forests plus deer make it impossible for one to survive. White Oaks aren't the only thing that can't regenerate due to the browse pressure. Many other native plants are becoming rare. I see it every year in my woods, plants will come up for several years, get browsed every year and then eventually disappear. Trillium is a good example. I have some in my woods, the only ones that last are ones in blackberry patches where the deer don't venture. Solomons Seal, Bellwort and other forbs will last for a short while till the deer find them then are gone to never come back. Its sad that most "sportsmen" or "conservationists" only care about what they hunt/trap and not the rest of the natural world.
Wolves are here to stay, might as well face it whether you like it or not. How far they will spread is the question. If they aren't hunted or trapped they will continue to spread. There is alot of food for them in the southern 1/2 of the state. Unfortunately they will become less and less afraid of man over time until they are hunted or trapped again. Can you imagine wolves walking around the suburbs at night like you see coyotes doing now.
As far dogs and wolves, again, like Bernie mentions, if you live in wolf country allowing your dogs to run is a risk.
