Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

I was reading an article today that basically reinforces what I was talking about yesterday.  This article goes a little further with additional data and uses the numbers to encompass more than just livestock kills. It attempts to debunk many of the knee jerk reactions that people may have if they haven't had a chance to learn more about wolves and their habits. My favorite part is when he talks about the documented human death toll in America that healthy wolves have caused (oh wait that number would be ZERO) compared to how many people have died from other causes such as drowning in a bathtub: 352. That's correct, you are 352 times more likely to drown in your bathtub than be killed by a wolf which I find incredibly reassuring.

           who do YOU trust    

Comments

[IdahoAnnie]

I'm so glad that you are reassured about the absolute ZERO chance of a wolf attack on a human. I can't help but wonder, however, where you live? I happen to live in Challis - a town right beside the Frank Church Wilderness area where these wolves have been reintroduced. Now, I have two small daughters and I personally don't feel reassured that a wolf won't one day attack a small child.

They've already attacked local ranchers' livestock and small animals defending their masters' land. Does a wolf draw distinction between an animal and small child?

I have a friend that gave his personal testimony of being stalked by a small pack of wolves. It's on record with Idaho Fish and Game.

These animals reproduce rapidly and need an ever increasing amount of land to sustain their numbers. Where do you live? I'm sure wolves roamed that area at one point in history - let's give them back their natural habitat and move them into your back yard! I'm sure you wouldn't have such a profound sense of reassurance then.

[beardog321]

Well, IdahoAnnie, I live in Wyoming, and you betcha, wolves roamed here at one time and are coming back, which I am so glad for. You can throw them in my backyard anytime. Again the fear-mongering is in overdrive, along with the myths perpetrates by the anti-wolf folks. And what kind of person lets their small animal defend their masters land? And in Challis - a town right beside the Frank Church Wilderness area none the less.
I can see you now, sitting in your kitchen, freaking out, and screaming at your 2 little daughters, "The wolves are coming, the wolves are coming! Quick, run for your lives!" Not! Are you hoping that wolves attack a human to prove your point? And living so close to a Wilderness Area, aren't there other critters that may attack your daughters, like cougars, bears, coyotes, wild dogs, wolverines, badges, or even an ornery moose? Let's get real here, you chose to live in an area where wild animals roam, and now you are concerned about the dreaded wolf, when in fact, other critters from your wilderness area already have a history of attacking humans. Come on, who we kidding here. I understand you have an agenda, so why beat around the bush. And, I have heard personal testimony from a friend of a friend that wolves do carry flashcards, identifying human children (Which have a big red circle with a red slash diagonally across it.) and pictures of animals (Which have a green circle on them) so as to make sure they attack the right species.
As far as the stalking your friend story, that added a nice touch, but in court, we would call that hearsay evidence, and it would be inadmissible.People, on occassion make up or exaggerate things to suit their agenda. And even if it is on the record as you say, is their confirmation of said stalking? Probably not.
My advice for you is either kill all the wildlife in your area, and the wilderness area to protect your daughters, or move. The choice is yours, but please leave your sob-story at home. And watch those daughters of yours, because I really do care about them.
Reproduce rapidly? Ummm, like rabbits, mice, lemmings and hamsters? Or like once a year like wolves. maybe 4-7 pups, and they all always don't live. Ummm, reproduce rapidly is all relative.
Good night and good luck IdahoAnnie!