Wolf packs in WA Cascades

That is an awesome story David. Closest I've ever come was seeing them from the air, while tracking their telemetry collars during a course in college.

A couple of years ago Congressman Dicks arranged funding for a study to determine if wolves could be successfully reintroduced to the Olympic Peninsula; the conclusion was that yes, there was sufficient space and a sufficient prey base. Now if only they (USF&WS & WDFW) would only do that! It would probably solve the killer mountain goat problem, the overabundance of elk at Sequim and their depradations on people's gardens, and reduce the need for people to shoot elk with bows and arrows and bullets to keep their populations in check.

Wolves are gone from the area for a reason. Wait until you hear of a child, or adult being mauled by a pack then we will be sending out hunters to remove the wolves that were reintroduced. Guaranteed if they start growing in numbers they will start hunting farmers animals...just a matter of time. We have coyotes already in the Snoqualmie Pass area that feed on the cats and dogs.

Other than some very, very old reports of native Americans (before guns), captive animals, semi-domestics, dog hybrids, or, ok, stretch it to odd incidents in Asia, there are no recorded wolf attack deaths. I would be much more concerned about a cougar snaching a small child unattended on a trail (or a dingo!!).

Most of the hysteria about wolves is generated by the ranchers - but there are compensation programs and wolves are killed by USFWS for depredation. Or by folks who want a pelt, like the idiot in the Methow who tried to send a bloody Fed Ex package and was, thankfully, caught and punished.

Other than some very, very old reports of native Americans (before guns), captive animals, semi-domestics, dog hybrids, or, ok, stretch it to odd incidents in Asia, there are no recorded wolf attack deaths. I would be much more concerned about a cougar snaching a small child unattended on a trail (or a dingo!!).

Most of the hysteria about wolves is generated by the ranchers - but there are compensation programs and wolves are killed by USFWS for depredation. Or by folks who want a pelt, like the idiot in the Methow who tried to send a bloody Fed Ex package and was, thankfully, caught and punished.

On wikipedia there is an article on wolf attacks and the bottom section is dedicated to attack reports. There are many and one as recent as June. The biggest problem seems to be attacks on dogs that are walking with their owners. Guess we just wait and see.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_attacks_on_humans

I was pretty active on a website once. Tim S-u-ndles against me, Ralph Maughan and a couple of gear makers from Utah. One of the goons with an Idaho Wolf Coalition bumper sticker followed me and passed me on the highway and then slowed way down, right in front of me. A message I guess. Then a dog was poisoned by a tainted hotdog at a roadside in Idaho. Well, I'm sure you can dig up the rest on the web. I know the tipsters personally.

It was a nasty business, with a slap on the wrist to the perp.

A few months later my father died and I decided to get out of the wolf business.

Hang in there freeskiguy. Much respect to you.