Brittany Mezzancella 40 Gables Way, NH Bmv59@wildcats.unh.edu 8 March 2017
The Editor
The New Hampshire
150 Dow Street
Manchester, NH 03101
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to inquire about an article that recently appeared in The New Hampshire Magazine. On February 28th, 2017 the article published focused on wolf extermination in Durham, NH.
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If wolves are so dangerous, how is it that the Native Americans were able to coexist with them? The simple answer is that they are not actually dangerous. Most humans have a false perception of wolves. They do not howl at a full moons or hunt people like they are depicted in movies and stories. According to Coleman, there is no record of a non-rabid wolf killing a human since the arrival of Europeans in North America (Coleman, 3). This animal essentially poses no more of a risk to humans than a squirrel or a rat. Wolves are afraid of humans, and therefore avoid them. Coleman reinforces this theory by quoting Thomas Morton from 1967, “They are fearefull curres and will runne away from a man (that meeth them by chance at a banke end) as fast as any fearefull dogge” (Coleman, 9). As early as 1967 it was realized that wolves were terrified of humans, ran away from, and avoided them at all …show more content…
. These creatures are not dangerous to humans, they are just animals who hunt other animals. This has become established knowledge, since it has been a never-ending goal to bring the wolves back and help them flourish as they did in the early nineteenth century (Coleman, 2004). I do think that instead of exterminating the wolf in Durham, we should find it, if it exists, and add a tracking device. It would be a huge stepping stone in the study of this animal. This could enhance our knowledge on the species and may even help us form an idea on how to successfully repopulate the states with the species. Instead of the dark and biased article against the big bad wolf, this piece should take its place. The negative feelings addressed in the article need to be replaced with positive feelings because this would be a huge accomplishment for us if it was in fact a wolf that was sited. It would mean all of our past acts, research, and hard work is finally starting to pay off. Wolves would finally start coming back to the areas where they never should have disappeared
On May 3, 1995 female wolf number nine gave birth to eight puppies, the first wolves to be born in the park in nearly 70 years. The mother and pups were recaptured and taken back to the acclimation pen, until the pups were weaned (Sanders par. 15). The reason for this recapture was because at this time, this wolf and her eight pups counted for almost 50% of the park’s wolf population. Since this time there have been no other human interventions preferring to let nature take its course on the population.
The article, Washington wolf killing sparks rebukes, controversy discusses the local issue in Spokane Washington. Cattle ranchers have experienced a problem with the Profanity Peak wolf pack. The wolves attacked the rancher’s cattle as they grazed. It was reported that 6 cows were killed. In response, hunters grouped together and killed 6 wolves. This hunting riddled many environmental groups. They say that the wolves should not be slaughtered simply for living out their natural ways. In recent reports, Washington State University disapproved a professor, Robert Wielgus, who released inaccurate information regarding cattle rancher’s actions that rallied people against the ranchers. The misguided information resulted in death threats towards
Also, the government wanted to step in and help the economy, so bounties were set in order to encourage the hunting of the creatures. Communities began to see the "bounty hunters" as heroes, and these men felt as such. The attitude towards wolves spiraled out of control, causing hunts based on vengeance and hatred, and inhumane practices of poisoning, trapping, and torturing began. Even a former governor of Alaska, Jay Hammond, felt that flying in a plane and shooting down hundreds of wolves was necessary to protect the citizens of the state. Wolf furs were coveted, the animals were loathed, and the image of the wolf as a cowardly murderer stuck based on old-fashioned beliefs and legend-based fears. Nothing was done to stop the practices, and the hunts continued to be encouraged, until there were basically no wolves left to hunt (Lopez 139-145). It was nearly too late once the problem was noticed, but the government finally stepped in to address the problem. The wolves were going extinct, and it became clear that the animals were an important part of the ecosystem. The timber (gray) wolf was placed on the endangered species list, and severe consequences were put into action for anyone who hunted the animals illegally. The Wisconsin DNR began a very carefully regulated action plan to reintroduce the wolf to the state, which included radio collars and careful tracking of the animals in order to monitor their progress, as well as make sure they stay in
This image was correct until the vast westward expansion of settlers that came with herds of livestock. This human migration put them into contact with the alpha predator of the area, the grey wolf. Soon the settlers started to farm the land and took much of the natural habitat and prey that the wolves depended on to survive. With their primary food source starting to decline, wolves
Recently I watched a news article on the reintroduction of wolves to Scotland. This sparked my interest because I felt there was a large misconception about what they eat, why they kill it and how dangerous they are to people. It seems that it could have a vast impact on the environment the questions are: Should large predators such as the wolf be re-introduced into the wild? And is it truly safe?
Without the proper knowledge needed to understand how the wolf works, the creature is inaccurately shown as a wild, vicious killer. As Mowat progresses through his research he learns about the wolves hunting abilities and begins to acquire new information and states,” I could hardly believe that the all-powerful and intelligent wolf would limit his predation on the caribou herds to culling the sick and infirm when he could presumably, take his choice of the fattest and most succulent individuals” (Mowat 126). The way the government and people portray wolves as mindless killers is not only false, but it is far from the truth. Wolves are instead intelligent creatures that have the ability to choose and pick the right kill. Also, as Mowat researches their eating habits he finds that “the wolves of Wolf House Bay, and, by inference at least, all the Barren Land wolves who were raising families outside the summer caribou range, were living largely, on mice” (Mowat 107). During the summer the wolves weren’t even that cause of the deaths of caribou. Instead they found new resources to live off of when the caribou leave so they can continue to survive. This information is an exact contrast to the
While researching the gray wolf, I found out that it is actually a very touchy subject in Michigan. The hunting of Gray Wolves has been a very controversial topic. Gray wolves are native to Michigan but were nearly wiped out in the 19th and early 20th centuries by hunting and state-sanctioned bounties. In 1973, when Congress created the federal endangered species list, only six wolves were known to still exist in the Michigan wild, and gray wolves were considered an endangered species. By 2007, the wolf population in the Upper Peninsula topped 500 -- far exceeding the recovery benchmark of 100 set by the federal government, making the Great Lakes gray wolf one of the most successful recovery stories in the history of the endangered species list. The gray wolf actually came off the endangered species list in 2012, but as of December 2014, has been relisted.
Wolves have always been a symbol of the wild, free in spirit and roamers of the land. These animals are considered majestic and protectors of the wilderness. They have always roamed the western United States, although their population has fluctuated over time. Over the past 10 years wolf reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park has been a controversial topic to those of the United States. As of 1995, wolves have been reintroduced into the park. This has come with some strong opposition and yet has prevailed. The future of the wolf in Yellowstone park is now looking bright, although not certain since there still are those who want them banished again.
Long before the settlers started to make the United States their home, “American Indians lived long beside the Gray Wolf before settlers started to come here.” (Rowe, Mark) The wolf is native to the North American continent and has been inhabiting its land for centuries. It is a canid species, or member of the canine family and is a cunning, smart, fast, and sly animal. Gray wolves range in color from black, brown, gray, and white and also look like a grown German Shepherd. They are well known for traveling in family sizes from 7-9 wolves, led by the alpha male and have a mate. They are a fierce animal that has been researched extensively because of their unique qualities and that they are near extinction.
For years, wolves have been falsely accused for crimes in stories, myths, and life. In Never Cry Wolf, author Farley Mowat demonstrates how even though wolves are mistakenly stereotyped as evil; people don’t know anything without evidence. Farley Mowat takes a trip to Churchill, Canada, to study Arctic wolves for the Canadian Wildlife Service. He is studying the Arctic wolves because he needs to prove that the wolves are killing all the migrating caribou. During the entire book, he witnesses and experiences, new journeys about wolves and Eskimos, throughout his time in the tundra. Mowat learns over time, how wolves are mischaracterized from who they
Farmers, ranchers, and government agents have been contributors to this decline by poisoning wolves and over trapping (National Wildlife Federation, 1996-2015). From January 1, 2015- March 31, 2015 there have been a total of 13 wolf deaths in the state of Minnesota. A total of 3 were unknown, 3 incidental, 1 was hit by a vehicle, 1 natural death, 2 under investigation, and 3 were illegal that included 1 illegal shooting and 2 illegal snares. (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2015) Humans have not only been the factor of decline in wolf population, but the decline in prey (bison, elk, white-tailed deer, moose, caribou, and beaver) has decreased wolf numbers as well. Being the white-tailed deer population has increased the wolf population is back on the rise. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 2015, April 23) These factors are essential when it comes to determining the problem behind a decline in a specie population. We not only need to look at one factor, but a wide range of issues that can contribute to this
The most likely scenario for wolves beginning to coexist with humans is that a human hunting party came across a very young wolf cub and decided to take it with them. The wolf cub would have been very puppy-like at an early age. The reason that humans would ever take a wolf cub is because the cub would be seen as a valuable resource to humans back then. The wolf cub would become a sort of tool for humans since it is a better tracker,
The article is about the war between wolves and humans. The war is not a literal war it is more one sided. It is one sided because the humans are really the only ones killing. The humans view wolves as vicious predators, but actually they are just territorial and protective. When a human comes to close to a den, the wolf will warn the human to stay away, but if humans do not listen to the signs, the wolf could attack. In 1974, Canis Lupus were declared endangered, but in the 1980’s wolves started to reappear and then vanish again. To help get wolves back into the U.S, game wardens brought wolves from Canada to release them in Yellowstone National Park. This article talks about the “war” between humans and wolves and how they are misunderstood.
The wolf was once a much slandered animal. In the western world, people feared and hated wolves, and this legacy is reflected in stories such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. In these popular children's tales the wolf is made out to be a prowler and a killer of livestock and people. There is some basis for The Boy Who Cried Wolf, for wolves have killed cattle and sheep. But what of Little Red Riding Hood? There are no records of wolves killing humans in Canada or the United States. Yet, when wolves were spotted near rural communities, fear used to grip the populace, but over time this has become less prevalent.
Wolves have been hunted down to catastrophically low numbers. For years people have killed wolves out of ignorant fear because the canines are a predator who solely feeds on other animals. They cannot help their carnivorous ways, and they usually do not over hunt and gorge themselves like gluttonous humans do. Because of the hysteria that people have and the notion that wolves are murders, and that they are just out to kill, wolves are being hunted down and killed for doing what comes naturally to them. This is not only