Wolves anyone?

Anyone else hearing them this year?

There have been wolf rumours here since we moved here early in 2010. Our first winter hubby heard one eery howl in the middle of the night when he was checking calves and that was it. The next winter we heard them 3 times and sounding much closer. Those ones sounded a bit more like a group conversation. This winter they are echoing up and down the valley every second or third night. It is a grave concern!

They do sound much closer and not off in the distance like they did the last 2 years. It surely is a lift the hair on the back of your neck sound. I am not sure if they would brave coming down into the valley, at this stage anyways, but we are very concerned when we turn cows and young calves out onto range. There is just not enough margin in beef ranching to be losing a bunch of calves (and cows for that sake) to wolves in the area.

Anyone else got them where they haven't been before?

I have never see or heard wolves here, but that doesn't mean they aren't around. Perhaps the cougars and bears are keeping them at bay.

We have always had wolves here. They live out on the plateau but follow the deer into the valley. Some ranchers really suffer, those out on the plateau can have terrible years of losing calves. Those ranchers complain that there is a population explosion in wolves, but thus far I haven't been affected by it. I believe we are the only place in North American to have open season on wolves here as a result of the complaints. One neighbour claims to have shot 9 wolves this year alone.

I don't think I've ever lost a calf to wolves - but I calve late (starting April) not in January like some ranchers, so I think the wolves have gone back out to the plateau by then (and the bears are out - I've lost calves to bears before and assume that's what has got the rare calf that just "disappears" soon after birth).

I have seen wolves here - amazing how they vary in colour, in size and in health. Some look very little more than border collies/coyotes, very small thin, unhealthy looking, skulking around, others are big and handsome like huge long haired german shepherds, proud and glossy and fearless.

I also have a thing about ranchers who just throw dead stock in a pile near their calving fields and then complain about eagle and ravens, coyotes and wolves hanging around. Then go out and take pot shots at them. That's just not fair.

My cows are all horned and have very strong herd instincts. I've seen them attack coyotes and strange dogs and believe they would treat wolves the same way. I live in a very wild part of the country and adapt my ranching as best I can to avoid losses to predators. This includes keeping livestock healthy and strong to avoid drawing in predators.

I like wolves and I love hearing them but never want to bring them onto my ranch by my behaviour.

A neighbor about a mile from us had a horse taken by wolves two months ago. Last winter we had a cougar attack one of our horses, but he escaped. To this bad we cant saddle that horse anymore. The cougar had jumped on his back. He is just a pasture buddy now. It is rare to have either wolves or cougars here, but they are always close.

I just heard about someone that lost two horses to wolves this year, in northern b.c. . Here is the south okanagan I have been seeing wolf sign for years when I have been out hunting. Saw a pack of them years ago. I think a wolf took one of my dogs a couple of years ago. They are around for sure and seem to be increasing in numbers, same a grizzlies.

We haven't had a problem here, but we tend to keep our cattle in the yard at night. Some of the larger ranchers have some losses particularly out toward Adam's Lake.

We've wolves here, even though they say we don't. I've not seen them but I've certainly heard them. There's no mistaking that sound. No problems for us, although I did hear of one person losing a calf last year.

I suppose we can put wolves into the category of animals that aren't supposed to live in the prairie and parkland, like bears and cougars, both of which we have in ample supply.

"supposed to" is based on a certain era I think. My understanding is grizzlies used to have an enormous range, well out into the prairies.

Some sightings by some local hunters. Sounds like they are pretty big ones in the area. 2 blacks and a grey seen in the last 2 weeks. Haven't seen any myself yet, but I don't trapse around in the forest by myself either. I would say it would take a while for them to get comfortable coming into the valley bottom. I do worry about the calves going out on range this spring though. Hopefully they follow the elk up higher before we send them out.

We have had wolves here since before we moved onto our property. I just make sure that I run both my cattle and horses together in the winter for the better part of the day. They all have free choice hay and the cattle always have time during the day where they have access to their own hay only. We have the wolves run the fence line but to date have lost my favourite dog and my last five sheep. The wolf was very brazen came right into the sheep pen and took out four one night and came back for the last one the next night. Moved on the night after to the neighbour's three miles down the road and took two goats and one sheep and them made the mistake of moving to a cattle farmer with his calves staked to huts and took one calf. Came back next night to finish the calf and the farmer took care of said wolf. Haven't had trouble since then but we do keep an eye out and if need be call in our guy to cull the population. I am a believer in if they don't bother me then they are allowed to live their lives. Sorry so long winded.

"I am a believer in if they don't bother me then they are allowed to live their lives."

I agree.

I let my sheep run with the cows during the day but at dusk they are locked in a secure barn. Thus far coyotes are far braver and more acclimatized to human activity than the wolves. Fingers crossed.

foal0069 wrote:to date have lost my favourite dog... I am a believer in if they don't bother me then they are allowed to live their lives.

So please tell me what part of losing your favourite dog "don't bother me"???????

This is too much for me to comprehend. Please tell me I'm wrong that I'm interpreting this to mean that wolves took your dog?? And you're not defending??

farmchiq wrote:

foal0069 wrote:to date have lost my favourite dog... I am a believer in if they don't bother me then they are allowed to live their lives.

So please tell me what part of losing your favourite dog "don't bother me"???????

This is too much for me to comprehend. Please tell me I'm wrong that I'm interpreting this to mean that wolves took your dog?? And you're not defending??

Foal believes if they don't bother her they are allowed to live their lives. However, they have bothered her by killing her dog and some livestock. So she is saying she is not bothered by their death at the hands of the last farmer with the calves due to their previous killing spree.

Thanks you Sue, sorry about that Foal, I see where I mis-read that. I lost a much-loved dog a year ago and am still very raw about it. Sorry.

Unfortunatly they have become a problem in many areas ! When teher was a trapping industry they were kept at bay a bit but now that the animal rights have all but distroyed a way of life they have come back in a big way .Don't be fooled in thinking that they will leave you or your livestock alone ! As long as teh deer etc remain in the area they will feed on them .....but they will leave after a while and then it's the other four legged creatures that are at risk .Around my area we are seeing them more and in areas that I hunt the deer have vacated and they are moving into areas that they haven't been in sinse the land was turned into farm land .Myself I have had two run ins with them in the forest and it makes the hair stand up on your neck when they are that close ! had a friend who had a pack of seven shadow him in the bush a few years ago!He finally went back into his tree stand and waited for the other guys to come and get him .Beautifil by all means ,dangerous when they are hungry and now that there is no one to keep them in check they are also getting brave .Our natural resourse allows one wolf per season if you should see one ,and they will also tell you to shot as many as you can ,they have become a real problem in this area