Why do YOU believe wolves should be protected?

[GTX]

True. While the $10,000 was only an example, I knew it was far less than what some fencing would cost.

[Dark-Hyena]

People do the exact same thing to coyotes here in Southern California and the rest of the South Western U.S. as well as other parts (midwest, mostly,) and I don't hear anybody crying over that. Coyotes, normally scavengers, go kill people's dogs and cats and sometimes children. The local coyote population is then researched, and the next time something happens, boom coyotes die. The public and people who kill them do not cry and whine saying "Oh wolves are special, I love them, how can you do that you cruel asshole blahblahblah." But when wolves kill several head of cattle in a small amount of time, and the rancher hunts one or two of them down with permission from the government to do so, people go absolutely insane.

That is probably one of the most intelligent things I've read on this site.

I myself recently finished reading Wolves in Russia, and I confess, my outlook toward wolves has changed somewhat. I'm still fascinated by them (note the word "fascinated" and not "enamoured"), but I accept that they have the same vices as any other canid species.

An extremely simplified rendition of my current view is this; Do I believe they are worthy of protection? Yes, but on their own turf.

[Evo_Noir]

Shade, you are hilairously right on the point.

Fences are expensive to maintain. Believe me, no one wants to go out there and spend all winter mending fencing. But people still do it. It is the only means of protection they can give they livestock. Unless they have like, seventy llamas running around. Then I guess you'd be well off. But, in most cases, llamas aren't availble. xD

DH, you are right too.

And of course, I must be right.

*brags*

[kuro okami]

YES. I think wolves must be protected, and are very important to the survival of other organisms. If wolves weren't protected and lots of bad things happened to them, the food chain would be affected and it will go crazy. Then, the wolves' prey population will go out of control, even if they had other predators, too. Also, some wolves are endangered. I'm not so sure if this is true, but I think I once remembered that in Europe, some wolf species are endangered, and some populations finished. Another thing, about the idiotic story about the three little pigs, the "big bad wolf" is a total lie. Wolves are shy, so they won't go attacking us. But they will attack for prey, and with other clans [I think] Wolves have suffered too much, and I think we should end it!

[Dark-Hyena]

I'm not so sure if this is true, but I think I once remembered that in Europe, some wolf species are endangered, and some populations finished.

You are right in saying "some".

According to this, all Eastern European wolf populations, save for those of Estonia and Bosnia are increasing. With the exception of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, all Wolf populations in E.Europe are numbering in three-four figure sums, and the majority are either stable or increasing.

Eastern Europe


Western Europe


Not as large as Eastern Europe, but none are decreasing. Spain has a wolf population similair to that of a Canadian province.

Wolves are shy, so they won't go attacking us.

That's only true under certain localities and conditions;

Wolves; Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation





Wolves in Russia

[opferte]

(note the word "fascinated" and not "enamoured")

That's too bad. I remember reading a book when I was younger about the cruelty of wolves in the wild. I remember HATING wolves and wanting them dead for their torturous behaviors... Then I found out a lot of what was in that book presented as FACT was FICTION.

Then I met a REAL wolf and found out the truth. They have MORE of a rich emotional structure than any dog, but they are their own. They do not belong to anyone but themselves. That is to say, they are not aloof if raised around people, but they owe you NOTHING. It is by the grace of God that one calls you its friend.

If you were able to read every book written on wolf behavior from Biblical times until now, you would find 100 DIFFERENT facts on every aspect of the wolf. This cannot be. Someone has to be wrong, no matter how modern the book, or convincing the wording.

P.S. In my absence from this place I have done a lot of searching, including asking God to weed out what is emotional nonsense in my relationship with Mishomi, and a lot has been revealed to me.

I am a lot less emotional about Mishomi. Instead of becoming cold to his particular personality, rather, my excess and unnecessary emotion has been replaced with respect and admiration. Mishomi is more complex than any living organism I have dealt with-excluding humans.

He is very forgiving, and I still am unsure of why he has bonded to me, if out of sheer loneliness, or something he sensed (Yes, they do sense things. Not mind readers, but they do "see" SOME things that we cannot. I believe in angels and demons, and if one day I saw both through the eyes of Mishomi I would not be the least surprised) but do not confuse me for a mystic.

I have had wolves jump back from me when I was in an angry mood-nothing betrayed me but my thoughts. My body language was similar-but they knew something was wrong with me.

I guess you could say God is weeding out what is essentially useless and "filler" emotion-which I have to say-is prevalent in many wolf lovers. They are to be respected, admired, loved and even bonded with, but anything in excess of that is useless to you and the animal.

My relationship with Mishomi is not diminishing, rather, it is changing, to suit a more realistic view of him. In fact, in replacing the filler emotion I am gaining a new respect for him, and an admiration that goes deeper than it has before. It is simply too difficult to explain!

I'm sorry.. I'm rambling.. But there is nothing about the wolf that should disgust you or make you fear them, or even like them less than you do. Without trying to anthropomorphisize them, they are unique in the animal kingdom-in that they have an emotional structure similar to our own. It makes knowing a wolf a very special thing, but the wolf has to want to know you.

Why should they be protected? Because they're cute, soft, and cuddly.

[GTX]

Ops...

I'm at a loss of words.

I like you.

^.^

[Dark-Hyena]

(note the word "fascinated" and not "enamoured")

That's too bad. I remember reading a book when I was younger about the cruelty of wolves in the wild. I remember HATING wolves and wanting them dead for their torturous behaviors... Then I found out a lot of what was in that book presented as FACT was FICTION.

I did not intend "Interested" to be a negative connotation. I find wolves very interesting, but I'm not steadfastly devoted to unrealistically positive views on them. At least you're capable of maturely looking past your feelings and admitting that entering a wolf enclosure is not a game, as some people seem to want to think.

I think its sufficient that I don't hate them.

I guess you could say God is weeding out what is essentially useless and "filler" emotion-which I have to say-is prevalent in many wolf lovers. They are to be respected, admired, loved and even bonded with, but anything in excess of that is useless to you and the animal.

Now that's what I'm talking about.

[opferte]

Thanks guys, I am happy that two of you understand what I am trying to say. I tried to explain it to laughing wolf, and I now think he thinks I am completely insane. He was like "Oh no no I get it" lol he is the nicest guy, if y'all ever get to meet him. He is like David Mech with heart.

[LaughingWolf]

Hi Everyone, been a while since I have posted here.

Thanks for the compliment Op, I appreciate that.

So happy Mishomi has you. His life is better because of you.

[opferte]

Thank you.. That means a lot to me.

[Sharona]

Hi Everyone, been a while since I have posted here.

Thanks for the compliment Op, I appreciate that.

So happy Mishomi has you. His life is better because of you.

I'm so Happy to see you around LW!

Sharona

[Cerberus]

I did not intend "Interested" to be a negative connotation. I find wolves very interesting, but I'm not steadfastly devoted to unrealistically positive views on them. At least you're capable of maturely looking past your feelings and admitting that entering a wolf enclosure is not a game, as some people seem to want to think.

The same can be said about any wild animal. I am not aware of anyone that I know (personally--in life or on this website) that has "unrealistically positive views" of wolves or any wild animal. That, to me, is just stupid, and I like to think that at least some of us are not as uneducated as you do so love to imply.

[Packleader]

Heyla -----

Wolves not only help control prey, and especially the small ones, but (yes, here comes a philosophical topic) they exhibit attitudes & characteristics that we have forgotten.... group before self before strangers.

I am a wolf philosopher; I walk the way of the wolf. I consider the wolf a four footed cousin to myself. I believe that ancient Man (sic) mimicked wolf behavior in order to survive in a harsh environment. When we no longer (needed" this behavior (it being so hard to continue), we went the "easy way." Humans are unfortunately like that.

Wolf became Dog. To me, they are the only animal companion who serve because of love. Of course wolves can be aggressive. All predators (humans included) do this; it goes back to: "group before self before strangers." There is no veneer of civilization in the wolfpack. An Alpha must make hard decisions... even to kill one of his own pups, if necessary. I've read journals where it's happened.

For prey control, to move the herds, to become Dog, to teach us and to befriend us,... for all that & more.

And: it's not for the "Grace of God" that a wolf befriends you; it's because you are worthy. That's what I believe.

"KC" (Packleader)
[Come to a nation where the Wolf is King]
The Realm of Lykosha http://www.geocities.com/lykosha
"The strength of the wolf is the pack; the strength of the Pack is the Wolf." (Kipling)

[Turambar]

(has only just discovered topic)

For my IB diploma, I actually wrote my extended essay on whether or not wolves should be protected.

I know that Ookami_wolf brought this up, but wolves were only endangered in the U.S. There were some places in Europe where wolves were threatened, but they've managed to live on their own...

Wolves in the US have handled their reintroduction greatly; I don't think that they need increased protection anymore. Whatever is up right now merely needs to be maintained so that people don't go crazy about wolf killing, since it's mostly the rural inhabitants that have a problem with wolves.

Wolf hunting doesn't affect wolf populations really at all. Only 4% of either all US wolf populations or Alaskan populations are hunted (I can't remember which one it is, but either way, it's not enough to put a dent in the wolf's population). The only thing that needs to be stopped is aerial hunting, because, plainly, that is harassment of wildlife.