Paul in Idaho
Well-known member
I watched this last night: http://video.pbs.org/video/2365145208/ It is well done, with interviews with prominent people on both sides of the issue.
Wolf documentary on PBS
- Thread starter Paul in Idaho
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katqanna
Well-known member
Paul, thanks for posting. I am only half way through (company and phone calls keep occurring) but this looks very well rounded. It reminds me Danny Schwartz's documentary on Feeding the Problem - dealing with the elk feed grounds in Wyoming, with the mix of agencies, ag/ranchers, biologists, hunters, the economics, etc. - a good representation of the various stakeholders and their perspectives.
From all my previous lifes research ( put on hold temporarily), dealing with the archaeology, linguistics, comparative belief systems of interconnected ancient cultures, I have seen the association of various wild animals representing certain tribes, becoming crests, so to speak, like tartan plaids for certain Scottish/Irish clans, transmitted through time. How certain cultures began to vilify, through oral tradition, certain animals as representatives of opposing cultures/tribes. This especially spread through Europe, where we get these myths passed down to us through childrens stories. So I could relate when they spoke of the feared mythos of the wolf that still transmits today. Kind of like 3 Little Pigs, Red Riding Hood, Peter and the Wolf.
I agree that it is just an animal, an omnivore (primarily predator) like ourselves, no better, nor worse than any other. And while I am a dog lover, I do not mistake that though my dogs descended from wild canines, wolves are not pets, they are wildlife.
From all my previous lifes research ( put on hold temporarily), dealing with the archaeology, linguistics, comparative belief systems of interconnected ancient cultures, I have seen the association of various wild animals representing certain tribes, becoming crests, so to speak, like tartan plaids for certain Scottish/Irish clans, transmitted through time. How certain cultures began to vilify, through oral tradition, certain animals as representatives of opposing cultures/tribes. This especially spread through Europe, where we get these myths passed down to us through childrens stories. So I could relate when they spoke of the feared mythos of the wolf that still transmits today. Kind of like 3 Little Pigs, Red Riding Hood, Peter and the Wolf.
I agree that it is just an animal, an omnivore (primarily predator) like ourselves, no better, nor worse than any other. And while I am a dog lover, I do not mistake that though my dogs descended from wild canines, wolves are not pets, they are wildlife.
ida homer
Well-known member
Very interesting film. I think it was educational for both sides.
I noticed 2 things in the documentary. At the 30 minute mark where they were hanging the flags, is that a joke? They really think flags will stop a wolf from running under it if it saw a sheep or an elk calf standing on the other side? Wow. A barbed wire fence does not stop my lab from chasing ducks, I don't think birthday balloons and celebration flags are going to stop a wolf.
The other thing I noticed is how they emphasized that many of the wolf watchers and supporters spend days on end watching and following the packs in Yellowstone. It's troublesome that they can purchase Swarovski and Zeiss spotting scopes to follow the wolves' every moves but yet we as hunters still spend and donate more money towards the conservation of wildlife, and wolves in particular, than they ever will.
I noticed 2 things in the documentary. At the 30 minute mark where they were hanging the flags, is that a joke? They really think flags will stop a wolf from running under it if it saw a sheep or an elk calf standing on the other side? Wow. A barbed wire fence does not stop my lab from chasing ducks, I don't think birthday balloons and celebration flags are going to stop a wolf.
The other thing I noticed is how they emphasized that many of the wolf watchers and supporters spend days on end watching and following the packs in Yellowstone. It's troublesome that they can purchase Swarovski and Zeiss spotting scopes to follow the wolves' every moves but yet we as hunters still spend and donate more money towards the conservation of wildlife, and wolves in particular, than they ever will.
RobG
Well-known member
I guess I fish Beartrap canyon of the Madison too much as I recognized every rock in the opening and closing scenes.
Fladry is a fairly old technique used to protect livestock from predators. It's been employed for centurie:
http://www.peopleandcarnivores.org/services/agriculture/temporary-fences/fladry
It's only effective on a temporary basis but has been proven to work in ID by Defenders of Wildlife.
At the state level, for the most part, you are correct. At the Federal level, then it's everyone's tax dollars going towards USFS, BLM, USFWS, etc. Hunters and anglers have taken it upon themselves to increase their financial stewardship through our excise taxes at the federal level, a move that should be reciprocated by other outdoor enthusiasts.
Most western states are facing funding crisises under the current model of sportsmen pay. How we enlist the non-consumptive side is one of the more delicate political actions we need to undertake in order to maintain the kind of management and insulated agencies we have now. Remember, anytime you take general fund dollars, you place wildlife under the auspices of Appropriations committees. That's never a good thing for wildlife.
