wolves in RMNP??

[Aaronjhanson]

has anyone see this article? is it valid info?

http://www.biggamehunt.net/blogs/bghjournal/too-many-elk-not-enough-predators

 

[HiMtnHntr]

This is another case where beauracratic BS will get in the way of a plan that makes sense. Introducing wolves is certainly not the answer. RMNP is 265,000 acres, big for humans, small for wolves. The east side of the park, including the town of Estes Park, is where most of the elk concentrate. That's also where most of the people concentrate. Meanwhile, elk numbers seem to be down in areas surrounding RMNP. IMO, releasing wolves into RMNP would be a disaster . . .

 

[alpinecrick]

If Colorado doesn't introduce wolves, the chances are wolves will introduce themselves--and if a breeding pair shows up, the ESA will kick in......

Colorado needs to do the same thing as they did with Lynx--take the bull by the horns (so to speak), and restore wolves themselves (under the auspices of the USFWS). Then the state is given lots of leeway to manage the species without ESA listing, and without the Feds micro-managing.

Heck, the USFWS was so thrilled when Colorado showed up with a Lynx restoration plan they gave Colorado $300K to help in the effort--and it's important to note how "un-controversial" Lynx have been in Colorado (obviously, Lynx aren't going to produce the same conflicts as wolves would).

Most folks are not aware the ESA encourages and gives local/state government a lot of authority to manage or restore potential and listed species--if local government will take advantage of it.

 

[MuleyBuck009]

Alpinecrick : are you out of your mind ?? Do you honestlty believe that with everything that has went on in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, Colorado would be allowed to do as they please with a new wolf population - are you serious. If they show up on their own, so be it. But to be part of the destruction of Colorado's elk and deer herds by reintroduction - you are out of you mind and have paid no attention to what has taken place to the north of us. The wildlife in Yellowstone is gone - the wolf has eaten them all. To let that happen in Colorado, RMNP or anywhere else would be unexcusable and a slap in the face to all the people invoved with restoring the big game herds in Colorado over the last 100 years. The linx is a completely different animal - wolves have no place in Colorado and are not welcome as far as I am concerned - there is just too much at stake and nothing to gain from their presence here.

Robert.

 

[coyote]

Amen to what MuleyBuck009 had to say. We all ready have a huge problem with way to many predators. Our fawn survival rate is all ready scary low.