Can wolves restore an ecosystem? - Page 3 - Wildlife Gardeners

biigblueyes · 02-02-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Stiles

We could import wolves from Alaska or Canada ... Yellowstone used wolves from Canada for reintroduction.

Thanks. I was curious to know where they come from. It's not like you can farm-raise them and then turn them loose.

hazelnut · 02-02-2009, 09:32 AM

Beautiful Animals. An excellent information on their impact.

When we say "environment" few people can encompass the complexity of relationships that entails.

Gloria · 03-10-2009, 10:44 AM

I recently finished reading a book 'Where The Wild Things Were' by William Stolzenburg about this very subject. Informative book with lots of resources to check into.
Even in an urban area predators have a place. Coyotes have been found throughout Chicago an estimate of near 2000 since starting to keep track back in 1996.
But as soon as you mention a predator, even hawks, some people get very concerned. So mostly I don't talk about the Cooper's hawk catching baby rabbits or small mourning doves in our garden. I would never let the neighbors know that I spotted a coyote walking past our house late one night. The less noticed the safer they remain.
How do you go about addressing these concerns?

joepyeweed · 03-10-2009, 10:56 AM

There is an increasing population of wolves in WI and MN. They are slowly repopulating where the habitat is appropriate.

I don't think its wise to force a re-population where there isn't enough habitat to sustain them OR where there would be too much interaction between people...

old34 · 03-10-2009, 05:56 PM

I agree Joe. I just don't want them shot or poisoned out of existence again, and I imagine you agree.

joepyeweed · 03-11-2009, 09:15 AM

Coming from a state that huge problems with deer browsing - near extinction of plant communities because deer need to be kept moving, I would hope the wolves spread quickly down state.

bigbike4 · 03-15-2009, 04:19 PM

Where I live we don't seem to have enough wild predators either-we have deer by the truck loads, with only a small smattering of wolf, coyote, panther and mountain lions thrown in. I had never seen a white panther before moving to TN. Now I can only pray that the hunters did not kill it this last hunting season, as I enjoyed watching it walk down the mountainside every morning to get a drink at the stream across the horse pasture where I live.

I know we have black bear near here, although I have yet to see them. I know they are slow and not really equipped to kill the over population of deer, but surely they too must have a place in the food chain.

Prairiefreak · 03-15-2009, 04:42 PM

I'd like to see bobcats re-introduced, too. We got coyotes. Mountain lions have been seen in the area, even after the lovely Chicago Po-lice chased one puma down for 6 hours last April and killed it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Still makes my blood boil.

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02-02-2009, 09:32 AM	#22
hazelnut WG Writer Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Greensboro, Alabama USA	Beautiful Animals. An excellent information on their impact. When we say "environment" few people can encompass the complexity of relationships that entails.

03-10-2009, 10:44 AM	#23
Gloria A Bee's Best Friend Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Illinois USA	I recently finished reading a book 'Where The Wild Things Were' by William Stolzenburg about this very subject. Informative book with lots of resources to check into. Even in an urban area predators have a place. Coyotes have been found throughout Chicago an estimate of near 2000 since starting to keep track back in 1996. But as soon as you mention a predator, even hawks, some people get very concerned. So mostly I don't talk about the Cooper's hawk catching baby rabbits or small mourning doves in our garden. I would never let the neighbors know that I spotted a coyote walking past our house late one night. The less noticed the safer they remain. How do you go about addressing these concerns?

03-10-2009, 10:56 AM	#24
joepyeweed Heron Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central Illinois	There is an increasing population of wolves in WI and MN. They are slowly repopulating where the habitat is appropriate. I don't think its wise to force a re-population where there isn't enough habitat to sustain them OR where there would be too much interaction between people...

03-10-2009, 05:56 PM	#25
old34 Puff the Magic Dragon Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quincy, IL	I agree Joe. I just don't want them shot or poisoned out of existence again, and I imagine you agree.

03-11-2009, 09:15 AM	#26
joepyeweed Heron Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central Illinois	Coming from a state that huge problems with deer browsing - near extinction of plant communities because deer need to be kept moving, I would hope the wolves spread quickly down state.

03-15-2009, 04:19 PM	#27
bigbike4 Grub Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rogersville, TN USA	Where I live we don't seem to have enough wild predators either-we have deer by the truck loads, with only a small smattering of wolf, coyote, panther and mountain lions thrown in. I had never seen a white panther before moving to TN. Now I can only pray that the hunters did not kill it this last hunting season, as I enjoyed watching it walk down the mountainside every morning to get a drink at the stream across the horse pasture where I live. I know we have black bear near here, although I have yet to see them. I know they are slow and not really equipped to kill the over population of deer, but surely they too must have a place in the food chain.

03-15-2009, 04:42 PM	#28
Prairiefreak Heron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NE IL, USA	I'd like to see bobcats re-introduced, too. We got coyotes. Mountain lions have been seen in the area, even after the lovely Chicago Po-lice chased one puma down for 6 hours last April and killed it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Still makes my blood boil.