recent wolf trackings

[That_girl]

So we went up north Friday night for another wolf howl. We were out for about 4 hours, and heard members from what we think were 2 different packs. The main pack we were searching for we got 4 adults and 3 puppies to respond to us. They were probably within a half mile. We also had a lone wolf howl from a nearby pack.

Since gas is expected to go up again, and with school starting to take up my life again, I don't think we'll be doing anymore tracking until the snow flies.

As we were leaving around midnight, we got to see our first black bear! The bears have been on the move the past few weeks since hunting (both baiting and with dogs) opened on the 3rd.

Oh, and on my way to the kennel to work yesterday morning, there was a dead black bear on the road! I forget just how far north we live sometimes. :)

[katiem]

So where are the pics?

Sounds so cool, I'd love to go. Pack me in your knapsack next time will ya?

I've seen a dead black bear on the side of the road too. I got out and looked at it and poked it a bit. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, but how often can you get such a close look at a bear?

[That_girl]

So where are the pics?

Sounds so cool, I'd love to go. Pack me in your knapsack next time will ya?

I've seen a dead black bear on the side of the road too. I got out and looked at it and poked it a bit. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, but how often can you get such a close look at a bear?

Haha, pictures of a Wisconsin Wolf? I wish! Here's a really bad picture of the wild wolf we saw in Yellowstone:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/that_girl83/Montana/100_5800.jpg

I thought about getting out and checking out the bear because I figured someone would take it. Sure enough, 4 hours later it was gone.

[katiem]

Haha, pictures of a Wisconsin Wolf? I wish!
[

Why, are they rare, or just super sly?

[theresa92841]

That sounds really neat. How can you tell the adults from the pups? I know nothing about wolves. Except that we need them. And that I think they are starting to make a come back.

[That_girl]

Very elusive. People who live in the woods don't see them. I've heard so many stories of people in the woods feeling like they're being followed. That would be the wolves. They will check people out, but you're pretty much more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a wolf.

There's been 1 wild wolf attack in the last hundred years, and that was in Canada by a guy who was researching them and got too close. People here are soooo afraid of them and it's completely unfounded.

You can tell the pups from the adults easily. The adults howl - like you would hear on TV. The pups are more yippy, like dog barking, because they haven't got their long howl down pat yet. :)

We do need wolves, especially here. Our deer population is out of control and deer hunting is on the decline. There is so much mis-information that most people believe the wolves are eating the big trophy bucks, which simply isn't the case. They eat the smaller, sicker, weaker deer, thus cleaning the population. We are starting to get to a point though that DNR is considering a wolf management plan. We have around 600 wolves, mostly in the northern part, although there are a few packs around the Madison area, believe it or not.

Most people here are anti-wolves because they attack and kill dogs. However, there is so much mis-information about that, too. Last year, only 10 bear dogs were killed by wolves, but you'll hear everyone talk about how wolves are killers. They also sometimes take an occasional calf, foal, or lamb. Farmers who document the kill are compensated in the thousands of dollars for their animals. Still, many wolves will be shot and killed on sight this year do to plain old fear and misunderstanding.

(more than you wanted to know, I'm sure :))

[theresa92841]

(more than you wanted to know, I'm sure :))

Not at all. I enjoy finding out about things like this.

[Julia423]

So we went up north Friday night for another wolf howl.

When I read the first line, I had to giggle. I'm a fan of the old show "Frasier" and in one episode, Frasier dated a girl who howled at the moon. Funny show.

Sounds like quite the life. The most wildlife I come into contact with these days are the spiders building the webs in the corners of my ceiling!