Are Wolves Contributing to Bear Maulings?
- This topic has 48 replies, 21 voices, and was last updated Apr 22, 2012 at 1:30 pm by
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Good points Zach. It seems reasonable in theory that wolves are reducing the elk herd sufficiently to put some pressure on bears that share the same resource. I think the period of hurt for bears is still restricted to calving season which is primarily when bears are killing their own elk. I also think bears are being gifted throughout the year with wolf-killed elk.
Gary,
Great posts. Making some very good sense of things.
An increase in visitation by 300,000 is NOT insignificant.
While an easterner myself, I do think there is merit and value in understanding why Alaska brown bears, statistically speaking, are much less aggressive. Certainly the presence of the incredible salmon resource may be part of it, but at the same time, their “growing season” is very short, so the pressure to fatten up would seem to be just as high.
All of this of course from a schmuck sitting a cubicle.
A friend sent this propaganda to me.
Note: He’s a wolf hater and anti-environmentalist…
I didn’t watch the video but I have to agree with the idea that many of these groups that were named would stop all hunting if they could. Well except for the government control officers that kill wildlife for them when puppy wuppy is killed by “invasive wildlife”.
And heck if hunting is bad for animals then fishing MUST be bad for fish.I have been fishing Woming for a number of years now with jaunts into YNP and Montana, always alone, and now consider fishing Yellowstone not for me. I don’t even camp there unless I’m in a hardsided enclosure.
I started getting the clue when I would walk into the fly shops in Cody. Conversation would turn to “where have you been fishing?” and when I would tell them the next question was ALWAYS “did you see any bears. ” Then how was the fishing.
Even some of the tree hugging proenvironmentalist(as opposed to the wolf hater anti-environmentalist) Wyoming locals are starting to get concerned over the bear attacks in YNP and surrounding areas.
Maybe after some lengthy study some researcher may find out what really is going on. One thing is for sure though, bears eat humans because we are available for sure and maybe they are learning not to be afraid of us.
Just an opinion
I’d also like to know the truth about how well bear spray works. Probably like so many other things, sometimes good and sometimes not so good.Ya, we don’t have a shortage of grizz here. I would rather forget my waders than my bear spray. Bear spray works. Unless you are shooting into a stiff wind, it will stop a bear in its tracks. I have never had to use it on a bear, but I work with a several people that have used it effectively. Thanks to a blow dart gun accident (I’d like to thank my son’s friend publicly) I can tell you that it is nasty stuff…………
Did you happen to look at the map while you were at the fly shop that shows all of the human/bear interaction throughout the region? There are a lot of dots littering that map.
I found a lousy photo I took of the newspaper article about that old bear that was captured out in the desert. This guy was out on the Powell Highway…………..many miles from traditional bear habitat.
And just for fun (but still a bit on topic) this is a photo of the cat that was caught one street over from my house in town.
I agree with Steve on the Alaska versus YNP attitude. In Alaska, I seem to simply be “bear aware” and just give them their space. In YNP, a grizzly at half a mile makes my hair stand on end. I also agree that it’s probably the food availability. Some of the guides in Alaska told me that bears don’t seem to be so docile before the salmon run.
And, bears definitely have personalities. Check out the different expressions on these guys. Both were about 60-70 feet away as we floated (quickly!) by.
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