Wolf/Dog pups!

[PHBeerman]

Do you think the purse market is larger than the hybrid boot market?

 

[mloudy]

There's a theory about wolf-dog mixes that is somewhat interesting.

Early on after European settlement in North America, people noted that the NA wolves were not as aggressive toward humans as their European counterparts. This was noticed almost immediately, and has been commented on many times over 400 years.

Recent genetic studies suggest that European wolves have high domestic content (I don't know how good the information actually is, it is just what I've read). It is the domestic content that is proposed to make the European wild wolf dogs less shy around humans, and therefore more likely to have adverse encounters. Documented non-rabid wild North American wolve-human attacks are and have been so rare as to be nearly nonexistant.

I have a book at home called A Gap In Nature, all extinct animals. The Falklands Wolf it says actually came out in the water to greet the first people to discover the islands. Below is something I found on the web.

"The Warrah or Falklands "wolf" (Dusicyon australis)

This canine, which looked more like a fox than a wolf, was the only land mammal of the Falkland Islands. It ate marine birds. It was first discovered in 1690, but was only described officially in 1792.

Charles Darwin, who observed this animal during his voyage aboard the Beagle (1833), predicted that this animal would soon become extinct because of it's tameness. Unfortunately, history would confirm his prediction, since the last individual was killed in 1876.

During the first half of the 19th century, many Warrahs were killed for their fur, which was sold in the United States. Around 1860, Scottish shepherds brought their herds to these islands. As they saw it, the Warrah was becoming a horrifying predator capable of destroying their herds. They set fire to the brushwood, laid poisoned baits and even went so far as to accuse the animal of being a vampire in order to justify its eradication. Once again, a predator paid a high price for man's stupidity."

 

[Doc]

Do you think the purse market is larger than the hybrid boot market?

You're silly.

You have to match your purse with your shoes!

Duh.

 

[PHBeerman]

You're silly.

You have to match your purse with your shoes!

Duh.

Good point. We better employ Jman as our queer eye in charge of hybrid pelt coordination guy.

 

[IDave]

So what you are saying is that all non-pure wolf hybrids should be eliminated?

There is no legal definition that defines the boundaries between wolves, wolf-dogs, or inbred wolves (which we call dogs). They are all the same species. The definition is a social one: wolves live in the woods in packs and eat elk, mice, and deer if they have to. Dogs live in your house or kennel with you, and some have been so highly inbred as to have characteristics that are readily identifiable (thus the American Kennel Association).

Genetic studies can tell if an individual who looks like a wolf is related to known wolves in the vicinity, but cannot say an unknown canus lupus is not a wild wolf.

 

[IDave]

For some reason, Timber Wolves in NW Ontario never learned to read and therefore haven't been indoctrinated by the popular media to understand that wolves don't attack people.

Do you know of documented cases, and can you reference them? Or are you just making conversation? I'm truely interested in knowing. I certainly haven't read everything on the subject, but what I have read suggests that in the Lifelong list of things to worry about, wolf attacks fall near the bottom.

By the way, most of what I've concentrated on is not the popular literature, as you say, but from more scientific sources, like L. David Mech, professor at University of Minn. and world renouned wolf expert. (Not to say he doesn't have an agenda, everyone does!)

I understand that there is a park somewhere in eastern Canada where the coyotes and wolves seem to be crossbreeding, producing an aggressive hybrid.

 

[White Shark]

Hybrid Harvest??? I think you are on to something.

I'm up for it. I am concerned about pelt damage though. My seal pup research has shown that a club is the most effextive way to prevent pelt damage, and it should add a taste of excitement to the endeavor. Now, about those pitbull hybrids.... They don't have nearly as much fur on the pelt, so I'll be happy to use a 12 ga.

 

[lowenbrau]

Do you know of documented cases, and can you reference them? Or are you just making conversation? I'm truely interested in knowing. QUOTE]


I knew a trapper who was attacked by a pack of very large timber wolves in the late 60s. He was on his trapline and was able to shoot four or five of them. The case made the news all over the place. If I understand correctly one of the animals was stuffed and ended up in the Smithsonian. Another wound up in a lodge somewhere due to its impressive size. The rest were eaten by the pack after he left. The real trama of the event was not the attack of the wolves but rather the attack of the city bound humans who said it couldn't have happened and that he must have staged it for the publicity. I don't know where to look for documentation but I'd take this man at his word. Our families have been friends for generations.

I've talked with other hunters who have been approached closely in the area by wolves as well but in all those cases the hunter had game that the wolves were interested in.

I've seen wolves i the wild north of Kenora but never have been threatened by one.

 

[IDave]

I knew a trapper who was attacked by a pack of very large timber wolves in the late 60s. He was on his trapline and was able to shoot four or five of them. The case made the news all over the place.

I hadn't heard about this one. No reason to doubt you, though.

I have heard about close approaches (one hunter knocked over by a wolf: guy was dressed in camo and had elk urine scent all over him). Another guy tried to split up a fight between his dog and a wolf, and got what he had coming to him.

I'd never say wolf attacks don't happen. But the lifetime risk is so low that a case is, well, reportable. Compared to dog-human, cat-human, even bear-human encounters they just don't register.

 

[calamaridog]

Back on topic:

I think you should go to court and get an order for DNA testing then lobby (through the local media) to save your grandpups.

Of course the Govt. may try to fine you like $10,000 for molesting that wolf

Save those pups!

 

[PHBeerman]

Back on topic:

I think you should go to court and get an order for DNA testing then lobby (through the local media) to save your grandpups.

Of course the Govt. may try to fine you like $10,000 for molesting that wolf

Save those pups!

They are already dead.

 

[freightdog]

Back on topic:

I think you should go to court and get an order for DNA testing then lobby (through the local media) to save your grandpups.

Of course the Govt. may try to fine you like $10,000 for molesting that wolf

Save those pups!

Funny thing - my wife was all worried because I e-mailed the numbnuts askin for a pup -

She is amazed at how stupid our government is - DNA testing a pup then killing it - how much more money did you want in taxes Mr. Bushy? Oh, you need to test more wolf pups...no problem

Good thing my wife and I did not breed - what would the governemnt do with 1/2 Korean - 1/2 White children?

 

[gorister]

You people out killing wolves are pathetic and sorry human beings.

 

[T Y L E R]

I've seen wolves i the wild north of Kenora but never have been threatened by one.

When I owned some acreage on Black Bay on Lake Superior, I'd make a fire on the beach at nite and exchange calls with a pack of wolves across the bay. On a winter afternoon I had the pleasant oppourtunity to observe a large black wolf bounding thru the heavy snow across the bay toward my property. I took out the binoculars and took a look. What a beautiful face ... just like your typical National Geographic closeup , for lack of a better comparison. I went down to the shore line and before he touched town a few hundred feet away I began trying to pace him ... he beat me to the shoreline where he ran up into the bush.


As Tom Brown would say .. 'My brother, the Wolf ..'

 

[T Y L E R]

Good thing my wife and I did not breed - what would the governemnt do with 1/2 Korean - 1/2 White children?

I'll take one ..



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