Wolf packs in WA Cascades

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

How many people get killed by dogs? Now that is something I might worry about. That and the low IQ rednecks that David mentioned.

What I worry about: getting shot by one of the members of my own species. 31,347 gun deaths in my wonderful country in one year (2009). Threat from any wild animal is not even on the worry radar.

What I worry about:  getting shot by one of the members of my own species.  31,347 gun deaths in my wonderful country in one year (2009).  Threat from any wild animal is not even on the worry radar.

What country do you live in?

www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-t...ables/10shrtbl08.xls

The heading says those are homicide deaths, not total firearm deaths.  Make of that what you will, but in any case the corresponding risk of death-by-wolf-attack will be relatively slight, even in areas with wolf overpopulation.

I, too, am more concerned about a lot of stuff than I am about wolf predation.  For example cougars, which are already here and have been responsible for quite a few attacks; grizzly (and even black) bears; neighborhood dogs; owls and eagles (which have attacked people and pets in my neighborhood), etc. 

I like being around wild wolves.  People on Vancouver Island seem to manage, and probably we can too. 

Thanks for the updates.

Mark

According to Al Sharpton today over 2700 children were killed by guns last year and 13100 injured.

And then you've got vehicular deaths, deaths due to smoking, and alcohol; and I'm sure working in a known bad environment is also significant.

All of these things were either embraced or accepted by large segments of the population despite knowing that all of these behaviors are inherently risky.

On the other side of the coin somebody might have been killed by a wolf back in the 1880's, some other folks might have been spooked, and as I recall the number in the Idaho/Wyoming area is nine livestock killed this year (and ranchers compensated).

Hyping the risk of wolves or other wildlife is just a tad bit silly.

^^^^  Those were really interesting, if about ten notches too dramatic. I don't really get the hysterical position of the "eradicate them" camp. If you like elk, deer etc for shooting-at purposes, then presumably like wolves too, as they'd strengthen the herds by culling the weak. If you like healthy forests, you like wolves AND hunters to keep the elk and deer populations healthy. If your a rancher with cows that get eaten then you get compensated by the government AND you get to shoot wolves (which presumably you want to do anyway). So who looses?

edited to add a few : : so that my deadpan tone isn't misconstrued...