Attacked and killed by wolves

A related Essay by Dr. Valerius Geist

I toyed with the idea of continuing my BS in Wildlife Management and getting a Masters at the University of Alberta under Dr. Geist in the mid 80's, I wish now that I had acted upon that idea. Excellent article, as are any by Geist.
 
The only thing that surprises me about this story is that is doesn't happen more often, and closer to home.

Just in my personal experience bow/gun hunting out of a remote cabin in Lincoln county Wisconsin over 10 years, I've lost track of how many close encounters with wolves there's been. Been stalked regularly, sometimes, quietly, sometimes with them howling the whole way, when they do this, they are both paralleling and behind. Been charged head on at full speed, he put the brakes on just feet away, leaves piled up in front of his feet. Had one go into a pounce position close to me, and think about for far too long. Had a group stalk me to my tree stand just before light, they lost me as I went up, at first light I could see they circled around in an organized spread-out line looking for me. They are no joke.

In most of these cases, I figured it was just one small detail that stopped them from going into a kill mode. If a person were to run, look afraid, or be unlucky, I figure it would setoff their instinctual chase mechanism beyond return.

It definitely helps that bowhunters in this state are allowed to carry a sidearm, but they have better night vision than we do. It's just so hard to believe, such a high percentage of people have been so lucky, for so long.
 
The city-folk will dismiss these encounters by saying that humans are invading the wolves home. That argument rubs me the wrong way because as a human I believe that I have the same right to the woods as the wolf does.
 
I toyed with the idea of continuing my BS in Wildlife Management and getting a Masters at the University of Alberta under Dr. Geist in the mid 80's, I wish now that I had acted upon that idea. Excellent article, as are any by Geist.
Thanks for posting that.

Isn't it interesting that Pacquet character and Net Geo tried to fake news that whole situation and blame it on Bears. What a joke.

Guaranteed these wolf re introductions rely on similar hack science, in fact, isn't CO pausing their Wolf program now that the facts of wolves destruction is leaking out?
 
I can’t understand how or why, in certain parts, one would go more than 10 ft from a cabin unarmed. Wouldn’t need it 9 out of 10 times……Ah….but that 10th time!
“ Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it “ is one of the wisest adages out there, IMHO.
 
That is true. Their eyes are built to see MUCH better in the dark than most other mammals.

In addition they also carry the inborn capacity of sensing thermally.

Some research also indicates they may actually see somewhat into the infrared spectrum.

What research shows wolves can see infrared? They can detect heat from a couple meters away through warming of their nose, but I highly doubt they have a photopigment that can isomerize to infrared.
 
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