I really have nothing against wolves, they are beautiful majestic animals, whose eerie nighttime howls from the packs, echo across the American west. Their calls are heard in the rural “wild” spaces, not the urban cities where the voters of Colorado gathered enough votes, by a slim margin, to overturn the overwhelming will of the rest of Colorado. Old news, brings the reality of the wolf introduction recently, applauded by many and dreaded by ranchers like me that soon will be on the front lines of the impending “wolf conflict.”
Recently this very publication, The Fence Post, was accused of fear mongering, when a journalist called foul, rooted in excellent truthful reporting based on solid research, as the government once again lied to people who’ll be most affected by their actions. The government promising concerned cattle ranchers that “problem” Oregon wolves with cattle depredation criminal backgrounds would not be trapped and brought into the state. As it turns out nine out of 10 of the introduced wolves have great howling voices, but unfortunately like steak for dinner. According to wolf behavioral experts, once they try the easy prey of a cow’s calf and the delectable taste of “veal,” they likely won’t go back to battling a pissed off mother moose or elk with those nasty horns. (On a side note, I predict, based on data from other states, that within a decade all of the moose that have repopulated in Colorado will be wiped out! The Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the public have worked relentlessly over the last 40 years to bring the moose population back to it’s recent stability. Moose with moose calves are reported as one of the most favorite roadside encounters for tourists in Rocky Mountain National Park, located in Grand County where a recent wolf release occurred).