My what big teeth you have!

[Jamisjockey]

Wolves and coyotes hunt in packs quite often. Had a small pack of yotes try and set up my dog once for chow time, until a couple pops with a .22 rifle eliminated the threat.  One yote got her to give chase (on the beach camping, off leash), and the others were waiting for her around the corner.  Lucky I followed rifle in hand.

Anyways, a few good gaurd dogs still might not be a match for a strong wolf pack.

[Tallpine]

No. just no.

Just say no to hybrids, too.

Trust me.

Seriously. Trust me.

We had a wolf hybrid for about six years. 

He was interesting.  Just about the smartest dog you ever saw, but I had to establish dominance over him (nothing mean, just made him lie down and roll over on his back before I would pet him).  After that he would learn almost anything in one or two tries.  I used him to pull a sled and he would follow voice or hand signals as a lead dog.

I wouldn't recommend one for most people, and not at all in livestock country.  Up on the national forest we sorta got along by keeping him tied even though there were range cattle.

[HankB]

When I was a kid my family I had friends who lived on a farm.  We'd visit them a lot throughout the year.  Farmers in the area raised milk cows and sheep.  We'd hunt feral dogs with .22 lr.  The dogs would kill sheep and maul the cows.  City folks would dump unwanted pet dogs in the country.  Didn't take long for them to go feral and even run in packs.

I live in a suburb of Austin, TX, and over the past few years there have been occasional problems with dog packs attacking some local livestock, tearing up and/or killing goats, sheep, etc.

There are coyotes around too - I've SEEN them in my own back yard. (though none recently.) Generally beneficial, as when they're in the area they keep the domestic cat population down. 

Gray foxes are common, but they're regarded as generally harmless.

[roo_ster]

Wolfie needs to learn who is really the top dog.

[BobR]

It (the wolf) was probably way over on the east side of the state (Miles City) looking for a decent elk. The predators (including, if not mostly, wolves) have made them sort of scarce on the west side of the state. 

I saw a series of trail cam pics the other day where 2 coyotes took down a whitetail buck. It took then a few hours but they ended up with lunch.

bob

[French G.]

This eastie heard probably 20 yotes singing, about a deer carcass no doubt, the other morning when I came home from work. We have 5 times as many lambs as people in this county, lose some to the critters, but we survive. I do not like the Sierra Club wolf stance, nor do I like the attitude of many stockmen which seems to call back to last century's extirpation. I think a controlled wolf season would be good, and as long as it is federally managed as a species, federal money for stock loss. People indiscriminately shooting wolves without depradation tags are poachers. And there are many stock protection schemes that work other than shooting everything.

[Tallpine]

(the wolf) was probably way over on the east side of the state (Miles City)

Down in the extreme SE corner near South Dakota.

This eastie heard probably 20 yotes singing, about a deer carcass no doubt, the other morning when I came home from work. We have 5 times as many lambs as people in this county, lose some to the critters, but we survive. I do not like the Sierra Club wolf stance, nor do I like the attitude of many stockmen which seems to call back to last century's extirpation. I think a controlled wolf season would be good, and as long as it is federally managed as a species, federal money for stock loss. People indiscriminately shooting wolves without depradation tags are poachers. And there are many stock protection schemes that work other than shooting everything.

My view is that wolves should be semi-protected (hunting season) on public land and unprotected on private land.  For one thing, it is possible that one might not be sure whether the critter chasing your stock is a wolf or stray dog.

I happen to actually like wolves, but regardless of your feelings they are well established now in the northern Rockies and adjacent plains and valleys.  The wolves are never going away again without a determined effort to exterminate them, which took something like 50 plus years the first time.  Shooting them on sight on private land just keeps them wary of man and at least somewhat limited in range to the forests and mountains.

[seeker_two]

It wouldn't have happened to be named "Earl", by chance?...... 



....funny if you've read the Monster Hunter: International series.....if you haven't, you're missing out.....

[BobR]

Down in the extreme SE corner near South Dakota.

Oops, my bad, I read the Miles City byline and thought it was from there. It was there earlier in its life, possibly.

Wolves can do some traveling. Young OR-7 has been making a bit of news for his travels.

http://www.9news.com/news/sidetracks/232673/337/Wandering-wolf-inspires-hope-and-dread-

bob