Canis lupus hominis

Posted in wildlife, wolves | Tagged bison, Buffalo wolves, wolves, Wood Buffalo National Park | 10 Comments

10 Responses

1. on February 16, 2013 at 6:15 pm Alaskan wolfhound

   I watched ‘Cold Warriors: Wolves and Buffalo’ on TV the other night; an amazing documentary. When I was a child, teenager and even a young man and read about wolves attacking bison in the journals of the mountain men and buffalo hunters who saw it in person, I imagined it was a scenario of a bygone age; a sight I would never see myself, having been born 100 years or more too late. But now I can watch video of this exciting drama of nature, and maybe someday even see it myself if I travel out to Yellowstone. The recovery of so many species; especially the major predators, allows us to witness scenes of natural history we once though were lost to the past.
   Here in Vermont ravens, peregrine falcons and bald eagles, once extinct in the state, are so common I hardly take the time to photograph them anymore, coyote-wolf hybrids have filled the niche left by the exterminated wolf, and my son says he saw a mountain lion cross the road in front of him one night. Though there are too many people in the world, the return of endangered species gives us some hope that all is not lost.

   DAC

   
   
   • on February 16, 2013 at 6:46 pm retrieverman

     I hear rumors of wolves in the Northeast Kingdom coming down from Quebec, any truth to that?

     
     
   • on February 16, 2013 at 6:51 pm retrieverman

     The raven population in West Virginia is also on the rise, as is the bald eagle population.

     I always see ravens when I’m out, especially in the winter when they don’t have to compete with turkey vultures for carrion.

     
     
   • on February 17, 2013 at 11:07 am massugu

     Unfortunately, it seems to be open season on wolves again–almost everywhere. This, despite the obvious benefits to the ecosystem that ensued after the reintroduction of these apex predators to many of our northern and western states.

     The DNRs, ranchers and hunters out that way seem bent on exterminating them yet again–and things aren’t looking all that rosy for them in Canada either. Maybe this time we’ll manage to wipe them out. Then the only place we’ll see them is in film and at zoos. (But hey we should have plenty of “Red Wolves” around, no?)

     Sorry for the sour note, but this trend has really been eating at me.

     
     
     • on February 18, 2013 at 4:39 am Dave

       Russia is reducing the population in the Sakha Republic to 500; and in recent news, Norwegians are endorsing a policy of exterminating all the wolves in the country because “Russia has plenty of wolves, why would Scandinavia need them?”

       
       
     • on February 18, 2013 at 4:40 am Dave

       Unfortunately, Americans are embracing the same idea: “Why does United States need wolves? Canada has plenty.”

       
       
2. on February 17, 2013 at 5:37 pm Jen Robinson

   Great program. Thanks for posting.

   I’m surprised the wolves are so single-mindedly focused on buffalo. I’d expect the pups and those left behind to babysit would be able to catch rabbits . . . or something. Also surprised that the nursing mothers teats aren’t noticably enlarged.

   Last surprise, my dogs didn’t even wake up when the wolves howled.

   
   
   • on February 17, 2013 at 7:14 pm retrieverman

     Mine hated it.

     She hates coyotes anyway, so anything that makes a noise like that should be dead in her book.

     
     
3. on February 17, 2013 at 7:50 pm Gary

   Thanks for the tip. I really enjoyed the amazing photography. I felt myself going back and forth rooting for the wolves, then rooting for the bison.

   Most amazing facts to me: the wolf pups went for two weeks without eating. That is hard to imagine in that environment. And that a bison hunt might range for more than 20 miles. That is a huge investment of energy for a risky payoff.

   I’m glad I can just go the grocery store for my food….

   
   
   • on February 18, 2013 at 12:04 pm massugu

     So’s your dog I imagine (LOL).

     
     

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