Where's Farley Mowat now?

Rayleigh_Scattering said:
I saw an article in a local paper about wolves in Banff interacting with people aggressively, and it struck me as strange that someone would go strolling through the woods in an area where such interactions can reasonably be expected without at least bringing along a can of bear spray. Then, if Mr. Wolf does anything that indicates that he has lost his healthy fear of you or a family member you hose him down.

That, and of course the basic common sense of not feeding them (actively or passively).

A pack that has learned to see humans as a source-of-choking-blinding-pain-at-a-distance will not cause problems. One that has learned to see humans as a source-of-easy-to-get-food will.

But as I type that I realize that I'm making some tall assumptions about how such knowledge is passed down or transmitted in the pack. Am I overestimating the intelligence of these animals? Can anyone with a solid understanding of the subject tell me if this logic makes any sense?
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Come on, this is Banff, a losing and never ending battle to treat wildlife with Respect. Some people have no clue and don't give a damn about the rules. Results are inevitable, as the say, a fed bear or wolf is gonna end up dead.

Grizz
 
A young guy was killed and eaten when he went to take pictures of wolves in Northern Sask a few years ago. The wolves were living around a local mine's garbage dump and had already put the run on a couple locals.
 
ratherbefishin said:
This mornings Times Colonist (June 8) has an article 'Park officials howling over wolf activety' warning people that the wolves in Long Beach Pacific Rim park are becoming more aggressive and approaching people.

Wolves,like any large preditor aren't warm fuzzies,they are opportunistic efficient killing machines and no,they don't eat tofu.Hunters know that and respect them,the yuppie tourist types who read 'Never Cry Wolf' by Farley Mowat might be in for a rude surprise one day if the wolves become more acclimatized and lose their fear of humans

My own opinion is the moment a preditor fails to recognise a human as a threat to be avoided,and begins to see them a food source we have a problem.Hunting reinforces the relationship that humans are to be avoided and then everything is a lot safer for both the preditor and the humans.

I'm not advocating killing all wolves ,just maintaining a respectful relationship by not treating them like some cute little lap dog.They aren't .
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Your opinion is bang on.

While Farley may have been 'Hardly Knows It' I have enjoyed some of his writings.
The Grey Seas Under is one of my favourite books of his. If you enjoy marine tales it is worth a read.

Resident CGN'er Bruce Lamb's book Outposts and Bushplanes includes commentary on his experience with wolves and the wolf culling program in BC during the 1950s. It is another excellent book about a sadly bygone era which is well worth reading.
 
As a kid, I read Farley Mowat's books. I enjoyed them all. I didn't know any better, and sometimes, that is just as well. Later, as a young adult, I read something, a book or article, by someone who thought dear Farley was full of it.

I agree with the above posters with regards to ignorant people who think wild animals are all cuddly. One of the most utterly ridiculous movies I have ever watched was some stupid thing about two bears. My old buddy and I were rolling on the floor laughing. These dumb bears were making sounds like humans. At first, we thought it was a spoof. No! It was serious. No wonder people send their three year old kids out of the car to feed bears! Or walk up to a bison to take a picture. Guess who voted liebral?
 
Get a kick out of seeing the obvious 'indoor type' person wearing their souvenir 'wolf' T-shirt ......
Wonder if they've ever seen one, or watched a couple of them working a moose ?

Farley didn't know much ....... could tell a good story though!
 
For many years I rarely saw a wolf except for a chance encounter. Last month I had one come within 30 feet of me up by Fox Creek AB. I watched him come through a clearing until he was right up to me. I think when less people hunt, predators lose their fear of humans and we become prey.
 
In northern Quebec [Great Whale ]........the natives called him Hardly Knowit for his BS book on wolves..............Harold
 
Grizzly Adams said:
Actually some are entertaining and make you think. Farfarers knocks a big hole in what climate change activists are pushing. Belive it or nor, the Arctic was warm and supported an advanced civilization not that long ago. ;)

Grizz
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Yup the culture. Wiped out by the Inuit and climate change. Studied it in uni.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Under the cover of darkness. Towed her to Shelburne and there she sits for the last two years. Owner has been ordered to remove it several times. Each time they go to Court he gets ordered yet again. Time for an In-Default fine.
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Update - he got arrested on Friday on a contempt warrant. 21 days at Burnside.
 
In the interest of balanced critique... while you may or may not like Farley Mowats books or his take on wolves...his war record and contribution to Canada was undeniably admirable. His views on one species of animal may challenge others peoples perspective... but it is also fair to realize that he grew up in a period where very little concern was given to wild animal populations and human predation had seriously depleted some species....he would also have been familar with the early views on the Isle Royale study and the conclusions then being drawn that predator species (like wolves that were then seriously endangered in eastern canada...and over much of their former range) were able to be 'self balancing' with only natural influences. Anyway wolves are very interesting creatures and probably the animal closest to man when it comes to a desire to hunt..which is no doubt why they were one of the first creatures to be domesticated! Pity that in the wild they are so hard to study....my experience is that they are extremely shy. As for relying on First Nation opinions and insight on wolves....maybe... there are men (and women) who have spent their lives in the bush trapping and fishing who might know a very great deal about wolves and their behaviour....but there are also First Nations members who wouldnt know a wolf if they tripped over one at Yonge and Bloor.....any more than a latte sipping Yorkville matron.
 
There is a very active thread going on in the Huntingbc forum right now about predator management.

I wonder however if all the stated concern about "predator imbalance" isn't really to a certain degree at least, based on an anthropocentric notion that they are "our" deer and moose and that wolves and bears are taking them away from us.
 
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