Wolves coming to California

His original post said he'd seen 10. It didn't say anything about the population in that area.

I think the re-introduction of species that were wiped out has it's good and bad. But I don't know that biologists have enough information in a reasonable amount of time to manage a species though. By that, I mean if the wolf was re-introduced, could biologists manage the population annually? Would they?

In our area, we have an overpopulation of deer. It's a pretty simple thing to see. It's illegal to hunt them and we've seen more mountain lions as a result (we're seeing them in areas you wouldn't normally expect to see them either). ML's feed on the deer but the population of ML's isn't sufficient to manage the deer population. ML's also don't discriminate--deer or dog, it's what's for dinner.

Wolves, as we've seen in the Yellowstone area, don't discriminate either. They don't know the park as a boundary and have spread beyond those boundaries. And like the mountain lion, no one told them domestic animals were off the menu. In short, the unintended consequence of re-introduction is the loss of domestic animals through migration or convenience.

Personally, I am not a fan of attempting to control wild animal populations through introduction of a predatory species. If the wolves migrate here, no problem (until they become the problem).

For the person who mentioned California government, here's a great example of the idiocy. We are spending close to a half million dollars to study why deer cross the freeway on a 13 mile stretch of I-280. Mostly because the researcher's daughter is getting her drivers license soon and mommy doesn't want her to suffer the trauma of hitting a deer. Never mind they aren't looking anything but migratory habits and that no agency commissioned the study--the results will be given to Caltrans and it's unlikely any action will be taken (in other words, "Thanks for the information" followed by a thunk as the report hits a file drawer.

 

I heard of that stupid study, state is broke, and the roads are getting so bad that pretty soon the only vehicles that can drive the freeways at speed are gonna be 4x4, as these idiots need a fucking study to tell them the reason deer cross the road.......for food! What else.

 

You solved it! Send CALTRANS your bill for services rendered!

EDIT: Oh ... wait ... they won't have the money to pay anyway .. never mind.

 

Put a chain link fence down either side of the problem area and run some tunnels under the road .

What is there to think about ?

 

It's a California thing.

 

very humurous book, well worth the read

 

There are already fences down either side of the road. Haven't stopped them yet.

Tunnels? Right. Deer don't look for convenience.

 

The fence and tunnel approach works were we use it for problem moose crossings here .

How do the deer get past the fences if they are there ?

 

Wolves to cut down the deer population? I'm just sayin' .....

 

I think they jump a lot higher than Moose can.

They use "gates" to control Moose traffic around the military installations here. Works pretty well.

 

They jump or find other ways through the fencing.

I guess my point was more that the state will spend money it doesn't have studying a problem for which the answer is plain to see (or it should be).

 

Haha , yes , I realize deer can jump higher than moose by a long shot , but if you are erecting a fence for deer control presumably you put it higher than the deer can jump , usually 8' in my area .

 

that;s one of the ideas, deer will jump a six-foot fence with no problem, the freeway in question is in a less populated area and it's all 65 mph, everyone does 80+, and it's like 8 or ten lanes across in this area. Very big, scary fast.

 

Oh ya , that's a universal thing , not just California

 

Like I said previously , build a higher fence

 

they have wildlife fences all along the main highway through Banff and they funnel all animals deer elk cougar bears to large underpasses
works good

 

Not the answer.

I'm surprised the liberal legislators haven't suggested feed and water stations

To keep the deer out, you'd need 15 foot high fences. Even so, they'll find a way--where food is involved, they will--as anyone who lives in a deer infested area can tell you.

 

I guess my question would be what are they going to eat? Do we have too many of those animals that will be the wolves prey? Is putting the wolves back in the picture going to create a balance? Are they going to eat coyotes? I'd rather have a bunch of coyotes than a bunch of wolves. They are certainly going to cause a hit to ranchers and farmers' livestock.

 

I work pt on an apple farm with a 10' high fence. I've seen MANY deer jump this fence with ease. I would have never believed how easy it is for a whitetail had I not seen it with my own eyes.

 

I know , especially when spooked .

My point is , there has to be a height that is unjumpable , no ?