Wolf Country (book review)

[John Y Cannuck]

This is by the rather infamous authors John and Mary Theberge.
They were largely responsible for the first wolf hunting ban outside Algonquin park.
They spent eleven years in the study. Their results (wrt genetics) have been discredited. (that immediately throws all their findings into question)

As a primer on wolves, their habits etc, it's quite useful, bearing in mind that he has a very heavy pro-wolf bias.
I find it disturbing that someone with a fairly clear pro-wolf agenda was funded by government. Ideally, a researcher should hold no bias at all.
He also paints a nasty picture of my neighbors, and gives the native community a fairly free ride.
For someone studying wolves for eleven years, he didn't seem to devote as much time to the effects on prey animals as I thought he should have. He does mention when they feed on what, and there is a summation of the effect at one point. but little else.
He's clearly anti-hunting, both of wolves, and deer IMO.

If you can get a copy to peruse without buying it, (as I did) it's worth it. If you have to pay for it, I would not, as I wouldn't give the guy a nickle.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

find a used one on amazon, I picked one up at the local second hand store, there is useful information to be found in there. As in all things, gotta think about what you're reading.

Grizz

 

[powdermaker]

If you can get a copy to peruse without buying it, (as I did) it's worth it. If you have to pay for it, I would not, as I wouldn't give the guy a nickle.

I like this caveat! I hate spending money on a book, only to find out the author is anti-hunting.
Another good read is "Wolves, Bison.....and the Dynamics Related to the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Canada's Wood Buffalo National Park". The author, Lu Carbyn is an old school biologist who believed in spending time in the field making observations. No bias in this publication and IMHO here is a case where our tax dollars were well spent.

 

[springer1]

Google Theberge's "research" and the round lake area east of algonquin park. Some interesting situations arose in the community from his work.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

my neighbors are still mega pissed about him. 'Back off Government" signs abound here, as do "Entry Contract"
Honest research is still being done, and those folks are welcome on my land.

 

[altaberg]

It took me a while to actually find the critique of Theberge's research. Interesting how most reviews are still glowing.

Seems it is now clear that there is only one wolf species in North America, the gray wolf Canis Lupus.
Everything else are coyote and dog hybrids, according to modern DNA research, and all of the Algonquin Wolves, Red Wolves are coyote hybrids.

If one was truly unbiased, one might conclude that for conservation purposes all wolves in Algonquin Park and surroundings should be trapped and shot and replaced with gray wolf from the west. And legally as hybrids, legal protection afforded to any wolf "species" may not be apply anyways if such a species does not exist.

Reading a few comments I see again how pseudo-scientists tie themselves into knots to make research results fit their agenda.

 

[Bland]

Unfortunately this is a published book aimed at a specific market. Preaching to the converted as they say. Peer reviewed studies have more cachet as people without a specific agenda (supposedly) read and judge the specifics stated as facts for accuracy. Unfortunately the people reading this biased book reinforce their anti-hunting bias using this person's credentials as a basis for their credibility. Sad. Reminds me of what a buddy's kid went through after they moved east to Ottawa. Kindergarten class and he was disciplined for making a gun out of Lego. This type of behaviour should be eliminated immediately. The boy was not exhibiting illegal behaviour but his teacher was trying to modify his behaviour. She should have been disciplined. Jut had my knee replaced and this included a four day hospital stay. I could not access CGN with my laptop as it was barred. Hunting BC was not. Interesting that an IT can decide what I can view in my hospital bed. I have not let this go and will be meeting with my MLA to have a conversation about this. Moral of the story, not sure, except we have to fight this type of behaviour at every turn.

 

[Chas]

Its funny that in the late 90's or so their daughter worked at Pukaskwa National Park on the shore of Lake Superior. Low and behold suddenly that park had red aka Algonquin wolves. During the White River Forest management Plan process, they tried to have a 60 mile no wolf hunting / trapping exclusion applied. I was able to get that thwarted as there is no legislative authority to do so under the FMP process.

A friend gave me a copy of Alaska's Wolf Man: The 1915-55 Wilderness Adventures of Frank Glaser. Interesting read about an interesting man and time / place. Not a lot of "biology" but a lot of good field observations and effect of wolf predation on the areas big game. Well worth the read.

https://www.amazon.ca/Alaskas-Wolf-Man-Wilderness-Adventures-ebook/dp/B00K0HYQSK