http://www.aenweb.ca/files/Webb-Merrill wolf experiment_Jan08.doc
http://www.thegatewayonline.ca/u-of...opulation-control-in-banff-20080319-2374.html
http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/fishwildlife/wildlifeinalberta/wolvesalberta/problems.aspx
If you care, read these. Epecially the last one, that talks specifically about
the effect that wolves can have on preventing ungulate herds from recovering. I am telling you,
based on 30 years of hunting in the Swan Hills and observing wolf and moose numbers, that wolf numbers have never been so high, and moose numbers have never been this low. Wolf packs here average 8-12 animals. That requires a lot of moose to feed!! Every 2-3 days they have to make a kill.
Having said that, I will also say that this year is the first year that I have noticed fewer wolves in our area in years, and I believe it is due to the precipitous collapse in moose numbers; the wolves are either moving to other areas or starving, because the moose die-off has been that severe.
We have not seen a cow moose with a surviving calf, in the fall hunting season in I don't remember when. Seriously, it's a rare site up where I hunt.
We do see the odd calf track, so I know a few have made it, but there's a long winter ahead of 'em, and a lot of wolves will be hunting them.
BUT...
Wolves are not solely responsible!
BUT, in the area where we hunt moose, the number of moose has absolutely collapsed, due to several factors:
Severe winter of 2007 killed thousands of deer and moose acros this area; ticks; predation by bears and wolves and lastly, unregulated hunting by First Nations, who are allowed to kill cows, calves etc...
Sport hunters in this area are only allowed to shoot bull moose. Taking a bull moose out of the population is not going to impact the moose herd over the long term, but when the numbers of cows are reduced, it can be very detrimental to the long term recovery of this moose herd.
Something has got to be done to reduce calf predation!!
The only answer I can see is to reduce the numbers of predators; bears and wolves, since nothing apparently can be done about the slaughter by natives.
So if you get a chance to pound a wolf or a black bear ... do it!!