FAQ
Q– Do wolves kill for fun?
A– Short answer, no. Long answer, wolves are survival experts. They do not like to take risks, unless absolutely necessary for survival. Consider this in perspective: an elk weighs 700-1100 lbs., a moose weighs 800-1600 pounds. One kick from these animals can be fatal for a wolf, and in fact, kicks from animals are one of the most common causes of death for a wild wolf. Due to the danger involved in their hunts, wolves will hunt in packs and take turns keeping the prey running for hours, sometimes even days. They do this to exhaust the animal, making it easier for the pack to kill in the end. They will kill what they intend to consume, and sometimes they will stay in the area where they killed something for days. Nothing goes to waste from a wolf kill, as the birds of prey and other predators will have meals from the kill as well.
A– Short answer, no. Long answer, wolves are survival experts. They do not like to take risks, unless absolutely necessary for survival. Consider this in perspective: an elk weighs 700-1100 lbs., a moose weighs 800-1600 pounds. One kick from these animals can be fatal for a wolf, and in fact, kicks from animals are one of the most common causes of death for a wild wolf. Due to the danger involved in their hunts, wolves will hunt in packs and take turns keeping the prey running for hours, sometimes even days. They do this to exhaust the animal, making it easier for the pack to kill in the end. They will kill what they intend to consume, and sometimes they will stay in the area where they killed something for days. Nothing goes to waste from a wolf kill, as the birds of prey and other predators will have meals from the kill as well.
Q– Are wolves dangerous to people?
A– Wolves have developed an innate fear of humans, since we’ve been their only predator for thousands of years. Wolves are intelligent animals who are very mindful of protecting their families. This tends to mean they distance themselves from us as much as they can. It is crucial for the safety of us and wolves that we show respect for them in the wild, giving them space and storing food responsibly whenever we are out camping or enjoying nature.
A– Wolves have developed an innate fear of humans, since we’ve been their only predator for thousands of years. Wolves are intelligent animals who are very mindful of protecting their families. This tends to mean they distance themselves from us as much as they can. It is crucial for the safety of us and wolves that we show respect for them in the wild, giving them space and storing food responsibly whenever we are out camping or enjoying nature.
Q– Are wolves the reason our Caribou are disappearing?
A– No. Wolves have always played a crucial role in the ecosystems they inhabit. Keeping ungulates moving, so they never overgraze areas, allows vegetation to thrive. The movement of herds over the land has a wide range of benefits, including promoting plant diversity, redistributing nutrients from manure and decaying bodies, and enriching different areas of the landscape. Their grazing and trampling actions also create habitat for other species, including those that benefit from the disturbance of vegetation. Through the improvement of land conditions, we can avoid desertification, an ongoing issue around the world, thanks in part to wolves keeping herds on the move. To suggest that wolves have caused an imbalance within the landscape in critical habitat for caribou without taking accountability for our actions is scapegoating their species. Wolves have had easier access to caribou herds, thanks to the roads created by people and the clear-cutting of their habitat and have gained an advantage. All in all, habitat destruction and disturbance are the reasons for caribou decline, not the apex predator that has managed the ecosystem for 50,000 years.
A– No. Wolves have always played a crucial role in the ecosystems they inhabit. Keeping ungulates moving, so they never overgraze areas, allows vegetation to thrive. The movement of herds over the land has a wide range of benefits, including promoting plant diversity, redistributing nutrients from manure and decaying bodies, and enriching different areas of the landscape. Their grazing and trampling actions also create habitat for other species, including those that benefit from the disturbance of vegetation. Through the improvement of land conditions, we can avoid desertification, an ongoing issue around the world, thanks in part to wolves keeping herds on the move. To suggest that wolves have caused an imbalance within the landscape in critical habitat for caribou without taking accountability for our actions is scapegoating their species. Wolves have had easier access to caribou herds, thanks to the roads created by people and the clear-cutting of their habitat and have gained an advantage. All in all, habitat destruction and disturbance are the reasons for caribou decline, not the apex predator that has managed the ecosystem for 50,000 years.
Q– Can wolves and farmers co-exist?
A– Yes, they can. We believe in non-lethal preventive measures as the best approach. Conservation officers, biologists and ranchers need to work together on a common goal of protecting the livestock and sparing the lives of wild wolves, for the overall benefit of the ecosystem. Cowboys or outriders, just having a presence on the land with livestock helps, livestock guardians (lamas, donkeys, guard dogs) and absolutely not leaving deceased livestock in the areas where predation might occur. These are proven methods that work, and we believe it is worth the extra effort to coexist with wildlife and nature. In the rare cases where wolves have preyed on livestock, it is best to take lethal action against them to avoid them teaching future pack members to do the same. Again, underlining the importance of preventative measures.
A– Yes, they can. We believe in non-lethal preventive measures as the best approach. Conservation officers, biologists and ranchers need to work together on a common goal of protecting the livestock and sparing the lives of wild wolves, for the overall benefit of the ecosystem. Cowboys or outriders, just having a presence on the land with livestock helps, livestock guardians (lamas, donkeys, guard dogs) and absolutely not leaving deceased livestock in the areas where predation might occur. These are proven methods that work, and we believe it is worth the extra effort to coexist with wildlife and nature. In the rare cases where wolves have preyed on livestock, it is best to take lethal action against them to avoid them teaching future pack members to do the same. Again, underlining the importance of preventative measures.
