Update on Me

Well, I've been kind of busy lately, with the start of college and working. I find it important to write quality articles on topics, and will continue to do so. You can expect two more stories this week, as I clear up the backlog! 

 In the meantime, help the wolfwatchers and all wildlife defenders demand a buffer zone in Montana for the Yellowstone National Park. Click this link to get to the story!

http://wolfwatcher.org/news/all-news/take-action-yellowstone-national-park-buffer-zone-for-wolves/

Wolf or dog? Wooof-Dog!

 An article on Wolf-Dog Hybrids

  So we all hear different stories about wolf-dog hybrids, so I thought that I would write an article to clear up some of things that are false, and give you a dose of the facts.  

  

  The first thing you hear people say is that they are great guard dogs. The answer is NO. In fact most of the times the dog is non-aggressive and will only defend itself. This is even more so in a hybrid that is more wolf then dog. They also make horrible watchdogs, since they have a much lower tendency to bark. 

  Another false idea is that the dog is actually bred from a wild wolf. This is not the case. Most of the dogs are descendants of wild wolves caught so long ago before federal regulations that honestly, they could be considered a domestic dog by now. Also, wolves do not go around mating with domestic dogs. Don't allow yourself to be fooled by this. Most "Wolf-Dogs" are mostly just dog. In some cases you can get one that might be a decent amount of wolf, but this is few and far between, and there is no real way of knowing the genetics of the dog. So never be fooled by the its 63% wolf, and 37% husky lines they will try to feed you.

  Lastly, wolf-dogs are not trainable like other dogs. They do not learn the same, they learn by watching etc. More like a cat, they are not really obedient in the slightest.

Wolf-dogs as pets

Support the Campaign at http://www.wolfhaven.org

  I want to say, that for many reasons I'm totally against all wolf-dog breeding and we need to support an end to this. They are not good pets to own, and most end up in shelters or put under. They can however make a good companion, but only if you are ready for the responsibilities.  There is a ton of special needs to consider when getting a wolf-dog. 

A super link to info on this is: http://www.wildsentry.org/Hybrids.htm

  In conclusion, I think people need to really be wise and smart about things they do in terms of adopting all animals. When it comes to the wolf-dog, make sure your ready for a lifetime commitment and not just a cool "Hey guys, I got a wolf" ego trip.

Thanks for Reading!

Robert Elder III

Links: http://www.loveofbreeds.com/Wolfdog.html

 

"Seeing Red Again"

Update on Red Wolf populations

   Once roaming free from the coasts of the Gulf to the towns of Central Pennsylvania, the red wolf was an apex predator just like its northern brother, the Gray wolf. That is until it became extinct in the wild just about around 1980. Since that point, wolf researchers, animal vets, and wolf conservationists have been trying to reintroduce this creature back where it belongs.

   In 1987, North Carolina saw the first reintroduction take place, with four pairs of wolves both male and female released into Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Now according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that has spread to atleast 6 other areas, including a D.O.D bombing range that stretches over 1.7 million acres and including an estimated 100+ wolves!

   Recently, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (http://www.pdza.org/) had a wolf give birth to 8 new pups and many other conservation centers and refuges are having success with breeding. Hopefully, with such a great effort by everyone trying to save this amazing animal, we can hear the howl of the Red Wolf cross the states once again.

Thanks for Reading,

Robert Elder III

For more info on the Red Wolf Visit the following links!

http://www.fieldtripearth.org/article.xml?id=1535&ordinal=1 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Article)

http://redwolves.com/rwc/index.html (Red Wolf Coalition)

http://www.wolfhaven.org/redWolf.php

"Alpha no longer top dog?"

  So we all have heard the term alpha wolf right? We'll it turns out that in the wild, that might not be the proper term any longer according to L. David Mech, the authority on all things wolf.

 Studies that have been going on since the mid 80s on free ranging wolf packs have shown that wolves in the wild are actually families, with a pair of breeding wolves(The "Alphas"), pups, yearlings and sometimes 2 year olds and lone wolves picked up, and that the reason we see the infighting is due to the fact that in captivity, random animals put together will always establish a pecking order, and have to fight for dominance.

 This is really a big discovery, and apparently has been around for almost 15 years, but most still don't acknowledge it, however L. David Mech states:

 "However, it has been said that it generally takes about 20 years for new science to fully seep down to general acceptance, including even new medical breakthroughs. Such seems to be proving true with the alpha-wolf concept. Several of my wolf biologist colleagues have accepted the update, but others suddenly correct themselves in the middle of their conversations with me; still others seem totally oblivious to the whole issue."

-"Whatever happened to the term Alpha?"  L.David Mech Winter 2008 www.wolf.org

 I have tried to get answers, as to whether or not the roles are still used just not in a fight for dominance way. Example would be whether or not there is still a wolf performing omega duties, etc. I have contacted a lot of the big conservation societies in the wolf arena, however only one has gotten back to me about why they still have way outdated information on their websites and articles. I believe they are the ones who should be at the front of the charge to be correct with their data. I want to make sure people can know that when they read about the wolf, they are getting the correct information.

 Now in conclusion, I will say that this doesn't change a ton in terms of what we know about the wolf in general, however, socially it is. So please contact the wolf community, and spread the word.

 Here are two articles, you can read yourself.

 Links-

 http://www.4pawsu.com/alphawolf.pdf

 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/jrnl/2000/nc_2000_Mech_002.pdf

Thanks for reading!

  Robert Elder III

"Why wolf lovers like me, need to accept wolf management"

 We all love the wolf for different reasons and as we share in that interest, we sometimes forget that we have to share in the reality of the world as it is today. Sadly, wolves in North America were hunted to extinction, and education was not there to help stop it. We realized that was wrong as a country, and brought back this amazing creature. I personally loved wolves my entire life, and recently have been devoting significant time to study, and continue in a career where I can interact with these animals and help promote their well being.

 Some of us though, allow the love and protection of our furry friends, to blind us in the reality of the issues at hand. Once this great nation was sprawling back woods and open plains, free of the highways and cities plotting these lands today.  All animals were able to live without having the fear of being hunted for their pelt, or poisoned so they can make a new mini-mall. This still exists in some places such as in rural Alaska, and many parts of Canada, as they still roam free.

 However I have come to realize that just like any other predator species, humans and wolves can not just live side by side. It doesn't make logical sense, or environmental sense, just like we wouldn't want bears hanging at the local playground. We need to have a management system to help make sure the wolf doesn't get any un-needed bad reputation, and for the hunters/ranchers/farmers to feel they can protect/hunt on their lands. This does not mean we cannot co-exist. We are surely able to, and it is our obligation to give respect and protect all species on this planet.

 Now, do I support inhumane trapping, or un-fair general chase methods? No.

 Will I ever feel any different when I see a hunting season announced?  Absolutely not.

 Will I ever support legislation that goes against things other than needed population control, such as out of season hunting, poisoning etc? Defiantly not.

  Will there still be places where the wolves can roam free without being hunted period? Yes.

I know most of us will read this and feel awkward at the thought of even understanding a wolf needing to be killed, since we love them, and would do anything to prevent that. However we must understand that we cannot control everyone, everyone's outlook on life, their opinions etc. We are in the minority as animal conservationists, and even more so as a wolf conservationist. WE are not hurting the wolves.

The last thing we can do for the wolves, is let them be accepted into the country, and quite frankly the world, and let the people understand that they are an amazing animal that is powerful, intelligent and graceful.

 However, the world will still have its thoughts and boundaries since it is no longer just the creatures of the wild living in these lands. Management must be put into place, with great discussion and of course regulations and we must accept and support that it is needed and will help protect our favorite animal from being hunted to extinction, or the target of multiple states trying to rid them off their lands once again.

The majority of my generation knows only the false facts about wolves, and has never lived in a world with them. So we must have patience and teach them about this wonderful animal. Wolves will always have a home to roam wild and free, but in some places we have to accept that they have to be controlled just like the wonderful L. David Mech said:

"Whereas the above considerations focus primarily on public perception of the humaneness of hunting, some of the public will judge the success of wolf hunting by its ability to decrease conflicts between wolves and ranching. Wolf-taking regulations should therefore attempt to focus wolf harvest on areas where wolves kill the most livestock. Reducing wolf density there could reduce conflict with humans and the need for costly deliberate wolf control while also gaining more public support.

Similarly, where states perceive the need to reduce wolves to increase wild prey, concentrating public taking there could reduce the need for deliberate control by state agencies, which tends to be opposed by certain segments of the public. In this respect, it also will be important for states to consider establishing restricted zones around areas sensitive to the public such as national parks.

In 2009, Montana acted quickly to close an open hunting zone north of Yellowstone after more wolves in an adjacent wilderness were taken than in an adjacent settled area. This desire and ability by states to adapt as they learn will be especially important during the first few years of public harvesting. As experience accumulates, states can refine their regulations to maximize taking wolves where they conflict most with human interests and where and when public concern about wolf taking is least."

Considerations for Developing Wolf Harvesting Regulations in the Contiguous United States

L. David Mech -- International Wolf Magazine, Winter 2010, 12/29/2010

 No one here, or in the IWC, or any place for that matter will allow this world to destroy this creature freely, with prejudice or in disregard for regulations like what happened in the early 1900s. We also don't like the idea of any wolves having to be killed, but that is the reality now. The last thing we want is the populations to get out of control because we oppose all regulating and then incidents happen because of that, and all of the sudden it becomes a free field day on wolves again.

  Please take my word into consideration, I want nothing more than to spread what I believe is the right direction for keeping around the wolf, now and forever. Some may disagree, but just as a parent is overprotective and may stop a child from progressing, we can be overprotective as a conservationist.

“Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen." -Peter Marshall

Thanks for reading,

Robert Elder III