Awesome Wolves!!!

ADK

PRETTY!!!!!!!!!!

Since the movie I can't recall the name of in the 1980's about wolf research (not Dances with Wolves?) came out, I have had a place in my heart for these misunderstood predators.  The wolf is a very well adapted animal, and deserves our respect.  It is also a very socially complex animal, and intelligence can be observed by behavior.  If only we had a way to communicate with certain animals (horses, wolves, and cats in particular) we could plan a design to bring their message to the mass media.  The problem with solving global woes we humans have brought to the planet is that we don't think.  I've seen people say "oh I support the environmental effort" but then they go and leave lights on, air conditioners running constantly, and so forth.

     Species like the wolf, living in proximity to humans, frequently gets the wrong type of attention, and overpopulates on the plentiful supply of scavengeables we leave unsecured.  Bears, too, get the wrong attention because of human campers.  The smell of food may not be detectable to our noses, but even a ziploc or plastic cooler screams to their noses "hey there's food here!".  The animals then make human areas regular food foraging in their roaming.  I believe wolves can range well over 50 miles or more in a night for food; logically putting your den near a regular food source allows for easy access and less energy spent in search of farther food sources.

     When humans see that there is an overpopulation of wolves near their food sources or get outraged that lambs go missing, coolers torn to shreds, and so forth, we go on the warpath and authorize through the state hunting a quota of these animals.  To say that environmental conservation has marked and tagged each and every animal in a square mile radius, and thus can predict how many animals we are to allow to live, is questionable.  My friend is DEC in Florida, and I'm sure he hasn't counted every alligator in Lake Okeechobee!

     Point being, best intentions are still from a limited understanding of animals.  We need that "universal translator" so we can understand animals better.  Or like Steve Irwin of late, love them enough to live with them.  It is their world too, and if we are not careful, they will go the way of the American Indian in the United States.  Before I get outrageous statements, let me clarify.  In the United States, the Native American population existed long before colonizers came from overseas, notably the English, French, and Spanish.  There were more, but I'm not arguing who came first to the New World here.

     When the new colonists came, there was a need for them to set up forts to protect their settlers from wild animals, the weather, and the Native American Indians.  Why?  Because they didn't speak the same language, or have the same culture.  The settlers learned only as much of the language as needed to promote their own self interests (trading for vital food supplies, medicine, etc).  Often Native American Indians were captured and forced to learn the settler language again promoting settler interests.

     The settlers only interest was to prey off the land, clear acreage to develop improved housing, and reproduce enough to populate the land and call it "theirs".  I don't recall any accounts in American History class in high school where they said that we all share this earth together and are only renting it from Mother Earth or any eco-conscious statements like that.  Most Americans are not technically native to this country as their predecessors came at some point from overseas, and need to remember that it is not our country anymore than this is our Earth.  The Native American Indian culture at least incorporated veneration and respect for the denizens of the planet they shared the land with.  I can't recall any cultural words of wisdom growing up that said I had to do anything but stay off my neighbor's lawn, or not touch other people's property!

     Animals are going the way of the Native American Indian.  If we are not careful, we will quota, isolate, invade their territories, and push them into extinction.  While DEC can monitor to some extent the population levels, government and big business control the money, and where land is going to be developed, allowing us to push further with new construction into animal territories.  A report on television last night said we will run out of ready oil reserves by 2050 or somesuch.  And the main argument there was that some were saying it won't happen (until 20 years after the conservative estimate) so why worry now?

     I would argue that humans need a new taxonomical categorization:

parisiticus Earthicus.

If you haven't read everything above, send me a message asking me why I think humans are a parasite on the Earth, and what I am doing to be a beneficial parasite.  And no, I don't recall the name of a beneficial parasite.

Grim

wow that was long!

ya it was but those are some pretty cool pics.

thnx!

This is a good collection – NGC had a couple of documentaries, and you may like the one entitled, “A Man among Wolves.” 

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/a-man-among-wolves-2926

For a review on the documentary: 

http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/arts/television/16wolv.html

Wow that's amazing!

Truly amazing video.  And to think that the review says he's mad.  Civilization needs a wake up.  20 years from now we'll be living in their territory!  We better start spitting out those solar powered cars quick!