Comments on: “But They Are Just As Afraid Of Us As We Are Of Them.”

By: Tom Remington

Tom Remington — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:40:41 +0000

Renee – Thanks for sharing some of your first hand accounts of this story. I have tried unsuccessfully to get agencies to change the information they put out in regards to predators but to no avail. I’m sure one of the bigger reasons they won’t is because they are protectionists when it comes to these sometimes aggressive animals and if the truth gets out, more of the public will be speaking out to do something about it.
Keep up posted if any new events occur. You know we can’t rely on the media to put out stories or keep them accurate.

By: Renee W.

Renee W. — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:07:25 +0000

I agree with all three of your comments made in regards to the wolf-killed deer at our bus stop. You have all made good points. We deal with the wolf issue on a daily basis here on the St. Joe River and we agree that the IDFG in our area are wolf lovers. I have been called a liar, etc. by some of the IDFG and it’s nice to know others have the same factual knowledge of the wolf as a killer; not only for food but also in reflex/surplus killing. The recent deer which my husband photographed at the nearby bus stop is not the first to be found uneaten by the wolves. Like any dog, sometimes they just want something to chase and “play” with and once their “toy” is broken it’s not fun anymore. I have several (numerous) stories/writings by professional biologists to support the fact that a wolf will attack a human. They are not the cuddly puppy dog some believe. The IDFG’s comments about not fearing the wolf are ridicules and will someday be the sad understanding of a small dead child who only wanted to play with the puppy. Thank you. PS: Just two days after the photos were taken, I viewed a large Canadian Gray Wolf running a deer through the snow from my kitchen window.

By: paul

paul — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:22:17 +0000

Good points Geoff, but the liberal mindset is not invading our IFGD, it’s woven into the entire beauracracy, from the “rubber stamp” commision, to the “money hungery” director, to the “no human intervention in wildlife” biologists, down to the “underpaid and unrespected by their bosses” conservation officers. Conservation officers are not allowed to speak against predators, period, if they want to keep their jobs. You let me know the next time a our fish and game dep. comes out and verbally blasts predetors, I won’t hold my breath and I don’t see hell freezing over anytime soon.

Tom, wolves not only have the physical and mental capability of just randomly killing but going into a “killing frenzy”. Point in case, a couple of years ago in the Franch Church Wilderness Area, a hunting guide came upon a steep sided ravine and counted 13 dead calf elk, and only one was partially consumed. The herd was chased into the ravine and couldn’t get climb out the sides (because the sides were to steep) and so they had to come back out, and as they did, the pack of wolves picked off 13 calves. Now, please someone with a four, six or eight year degree, explain this to us layman, who don’t have a four, six or eight year “predator lover” degree, why this happened if they only kill unhealthy, crippled, and compensetory animals. Tom, Geoff and anyone else reading this, I’m sure you have not heard this story and there is good reason for this. This would be an incident, in a line of many, that would dispell the myths that predator lovers are trying to indoctrinate all of us “layman” with. That they kill only: what they can eat, only the weak, crippled and compensatory animals and are no danger to humans, B.S. There’s a reason humans all over this planet have been trying to eradicate wolves.

By: Tom Remington

Tom Remington — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:37:57 +0000

One of the reasons I picked up on this story is because of the mountain lion kitten story. As I continue to watch the events occurring at the IDFG, I am also wondering about the makeup of that department, who’s in control, is it policy of the department to allow employees to promote personal agendas and how deeply this goes.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:14:08 +0000

I find Mr. Hugo’s comments totally irresponsible. In fact, I’ll go a step further; Mr. Hugo is a wolf lover. Anyone who makes the comment “they are just as afraid of us as we are of them” has a respect, perhaps love, for the “them.” These are children we’re talking about here — the most vulnerable of our society. Mr. Hugo’s nonchalant attitude toward the wolf problem is insulting. Wolves are not just another carnivore; they are a carnivore that kills livestock, is decimating the deer and elk population in Idaho (and Yellowstone for that manner), and we are not allowed to hunt them.

Tom, this is the second Idaho Department of Fish and Game conservation officer that has expressed great compassion for the predators in our state recently. You have a separate article on the first one who blamed hunters for the deaths of mountain lion kittens. I’m having serious concerns about the liberal mentality that is invading our fish and game department.