Wolfdog education

Yes! Though there are occasionally wolves that predate on livestock, the majority of wolves do not view cattle as natural prey. Non-lethal methods of managing wolves to prevent depredation of livestock work. It does mean that the conservation officer or biologist and the rancher need to collaborate together with a common goal of protecting the livestock for the rancher and sparing the lives of wolves for the overall benefit of the ecosystem. The presence of outriders, use of fladry (flagging on fencing), livestock guardians (lamas, donkeys, livestock guardian dogs) and simply not leaving deceased livestock in accessible areas are just some of the potentially successful ways a rancher can dissuade wolves from pursuing livestock as prey. We must put the effort into co-existing with wildlife and nature because we are all intricately connected to each other as species and therefore to the environment in general.

No, it is a proven, scientific fact that wolves are not the cause of the imminent extirpation of our remaining caribou herds. Oil and gas development, logging and recreational use have all directly or indirectly resulted in the reduction or eventual disappearance of our caribou. The evidence is clearly presented in numerous published research studies completed by unbiased, respected wildlife biologists. The fragmentation of caribou habitat (old growth forests) has resulted in our caribou populations teetering on the brink of extinction and if our intention is to save our caribou, Canadians must demand direct action immediately to truly preserve our old growth forests. Strychnine poisoning is used to "control" wolf populations under the guise of "saving" caribou but the reality is humans need to begin to respect sensitive and unique environments and give them and the animals that inhabit them the respect they deserve by leaving them intact and untouched.

Wolves often run their prey (to exhaust it) for days to ensure an easier and safer kill for the pack. Hunting large ungulates is extremely dangerous and difficult, not to mention the fact that fatal kicks are a common cause of death for our wild wolves. They will kill what they intend to consume, which sometimes means they return to a kill for days or weeks, and nothing goes to waste because the kill will also provide meals for birds of prey and other predators as well.

Wolves in North America (some remote sub-species are an exemption) are born with an innate fear and distrust of humans which is understandable seeing as they have been extirpated (hunted to extinction in a specific region) in practically every state and province at one point or another. Wolves are non-confrontational, mindful animals that avoid conflict with people by putting distance between themselves and us. It is important that we respect wolves and other wildlife by giving them space and storing food responsibly when we are out enjoying nature.

The role of a wolf in an ecosystem is both simple and complex and very dependent on any recreational, logging or other activities in the region. The more diverse and healthy the ecosystem, the more complex the interspecies relationships become. Simply put though, wolves are apex predators (top of the food chain) and help to balance the ecosystem they inhabit through an "ecology of fear". Lower predators and ungulates (large, hooved prey animals) are forced to continue moving in order to avoid the wolf packs. This controls the volume of small prey that's hunted and also curtails grazing, which in turn limits soil erosion and encourages biodiversity. Healthy waterways are usually a direct result of the presence of apex predators!