Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

[Dano"T"]

These were taken from a tree stand in the U.P. of Michigan. There are moose and wolves here in the U.P. I'm a little surprised they took this moose instead of a smaller deer....but maybe they are easier to catch??? Anyways...the pictures were so cool I wanted to share them.

[Dan Mahalak]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Dano, those are awesome pics.
If I were a wolf, I woudl choose moose over deer anyday...much better tasting.

thanks for sharing the pics.
Dan Mahalak

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Unlucky moose though... although your luck held by not falling out of the tree!
Nice going and thank you for putting these on the website.
With regards; ED OBRIEN

[N96337]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Yep, aren't those wolves just magnificent animals? We deal with them with our cattle here all the time...it's so comforting to see them eat a cow that they've hamstrung or a calf as it's being born...of course both before they're dead. At long last, next year we get to shoot them (legally) again, so anyone wanting to hunt wolves has an open invite to our place!!
JH

[MNJoe]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

As a Minnesotan with a cabin in Wolf territory I would love to shot a Wolf and have it mounted. I just wish in Montana that it was not so expensive for us non residents like me to get a Elk Liscense again.


Joe

[Dusty]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Those pictures were not taken from a tree stand, they were taken from a Supercub over Isle Royale. Note the collars.

They don't eat many deer there, mainly because it's a long swim to find one.

Wolves are made to kill moose. Luck has nothing to do with it.

337: How would you prefer them to kill, or would you just prefer a wolf-free concrete monoculture for those small parts of the lower 48 that aren't already?

[N95179]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Cool pics!

I found the story to them here.

http://www.isleroyalewolf.org/photo_ess/pe_EP_kills_moose.htm

[48fordnut]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Those were great pics, as was the link.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Wow, Thanks for that link...I had recieved these pictures via e-mail and the e-mail said the pictures were taken from a treee stand near Iron Mountain.....Shows how reliable e-mail can be. I suspect someone is trying to send a message to the DNR that the residents of the U.P. are not happy about the blossoming wolf population. I have been to Isle Royal many times...it is an 80 mile boat ride from where I grew up in the Copper Country of the U.P.......amazing to have captured the entire kill on film. The pilot and the photographer did a great job.

[Vasey fan]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

I was on Forest Service contract in the Gila NF some years back when they "reintroduced" the Mexican Grey Wolf to that area. Never saw one, but heard them a few times - much different call than the Timber Wolves up Nort'.
IIRC, they had some trouble with wolves "disappearing". A lot of cattle ranches 'round them parts.

We lost a favorite airport pooch to coyotes out here a couple years ago, since then I've been giving the 'yotes a little cupro-nickel lovin' whenever the opportunity presents itself.

[N96337]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Those pictures were not taken from a tree stand, they were taken from a Supercub over Isle Royale. Note the collars.

They don't eat many deer there, mainly because it's a long swim to find one.

Wolves are made to kill moose. Luck has nothing to do with it.

337: How would you prefer them to kill, or would you just prefer a wolf-free concrete monoculture for those small parts of the lower 48 that aren't already?

Hmmmmmmmm.....did I say anything about concrete? I don't mind it so much if they KILL...but they seldom do all the way... they prefer to have their meat nice and fresh..alive if at all possible. We don't necessarily want them ALL gone..but it sure will be nice to be able to control their population again without a bunch of people that DON'T live amongst them everyday, trying to tell us how wonderful they are. I'm not going to get in an argument about it with you...you have your opinions, I have mine... based on ACTUAL PERSONAL LOSSES right here... like more than 60 head of cattle and 7 dogs.. how many have you had????
JH

[Dusty]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

337: For the most part, wolves can't do well without a fairly healthy ecosystem. You seem to want them gone - I was just questioning what else you'd like to see gone.

I see a few hundred wolf kills every year. Every single one of them is very dead, even if it took them awhile to get that way. I've yet to see a wolf-crippled moose. Humaneness is an attribute of human beings. History suggests it's a very recent, very superficial, development, and we like to talk about it for the benefit of other human beings much more than we like to practice it. Wolves aren't quite so idealistic, if much more efficient. What, exactly, would be the point of them killing quickly? Would your critters be any livelier? Would you tolerate depredation if they lived up to your ideals, asked nicely, killed quickly, and cleaned up after themselves?

it sure will be nice to be able to control their population again without a bunch of people that DON'T live amongst them everyday, trying to tell us how wonderful they are

Amen. The stupidest thing USFWS did in that program was remove the locals from it. They, in the broad sense, seem to have a lot of trouble remembering that them manage the public's resources; most of them seem to think they let the public play in their personal sandbox sometimes, and that's good enough. I hope you get your season.

I'm curious - how'd you lose so many dogs?

Defenders of Wildlife - not that I'm championing them - has a program where they'll pay for livestock losses.

That's a lot of cattle - you must run several hundred thousand acres?? I'm not sure USFWS admits that many cattle are killed by wolves in the entire lower 48 annually.

Thanks for entertaining my curiosity!

[VictorBravo]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

337: Humaneness is an attribute of human beings. History suggests it's a very recent, very superficial, development,

What, exactly, would be the point of them killing quickly?

Humane-ness is what makes human beings worth existing. That humanity is what separates me from a lot of other creatures (on two legs and four) that I want to be separated from. I completely get the fact that nature has been cruel for millions of years. But I cannot abide cruelty very easily. Anyone who can turn a blind eye to acts of cruelty without feeling remorse is less of a human being on some level.

I know damned well that animals kill each other for food, and I know damned well that my hamburger was once a cow. But knowing that the cow was not tortured, and killed as humanely as possible, is BETTER than knowing (or not caring) if the cow was beaten to death with a bat or killed slowly while suffering. That's why I won't eat veal, because the animal is subjected to a life of cruelty, and I'll eat a hamburger because the cow is killed in a much faster and more humane manner (or so we're told).

The fact that nature is cruel and harsh is not an excuse to not feel anything when you see an act of cruelty. It's not THAT far of a jump from "Oh well, nature is cruel anyway..." to watching animals harm each other for sport. (If you want to see a real act of cruelty, put an M-60 in my hands and take me to a dog fighting ring... and bring people sized coffins)

"The cruelty of nature" that involves a painful death, whether for food or for other reasons, is one of the topics I plan on discussing with the almighty in person one of these days.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

Very well thought out responses....I will add that the "problem" at least in the lower 48 is that wolves were re-introduced into the "ecosystem" and it is not the same world as it was when the wolves lived here on their own........Sure, it was people that erradicated the wolves earlier in the 20th century in the first place.....but now I wonder....why bring them back? We have PLENTY of predators here...especially Coyotes. Seems to me the ecosystem was doing fine....now when I go deer hunting I wonder....where the heck did all the deer go? I know the wolf is not totally responsible....but I know they are having an impact. I also know that the consensus round here is about the same. As far as feeling bad for the poor critters who get killed in the wild.....not me....it's been the way it is since the dawn of time.....now when a man's livleyhood (aka livestock) or his dog, or even his children (unlikley) become targets of predators.....then there's a problem in my book. I love thought provoking discussions.

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Wolf/Moose Pictures in da U.P.

I think we kill more deer with cars than with wolves or guns. AND, in America today there are more deer than anytime in the history of the country. Deer populations and ranges have increased when compare to the 1860's, for instance. Deer live where buffalo used to roam and live where cougars are no more. Sorry to get into the discussion. I just thought some facts might be good for the arguments of either side of the issue you'd like to take;
I got no dog, or wolf in this fight. Just a passing interest.
With regards;
ED OBRIEN