Wolves in the Adirondacks

“

Hunter's
shot in dark finds unlikely prey Albany

--
Wildlife officials confirm animal killed two years ago was first wolf found
in state since 1899

”

“I'll get back to you.”

“That's cool that they found a wolf. Too bad some stupid idiot had to shoot it. I hope he doesn't get it back. He's killed enough coyotes (26 last year) to make up for it. What a loser, I bet it was an accident [sarcasm]. If there are more of them I could imagine there will be more "accidental" shootings.”

“It's going to be hard to regulate once more wolves are found. New York coyotes are much larger than that of the western variety (I've have seen some that would go 60lb+ easy). Our coyote population has taken on many wolf like characteristics. It isn't unusual for them to hunt in packs and take down large prey like whitetail deer. I honestly think that this guy thought he was shooting a coyote when he fired. It wasn’t until after that it was made apparent it was not; keep in mind that it took Wildlife officials two years to figure out that it was indeed a wolf.”

“I had heard they were going to reintroduce wolves into the Daks, but never heard more about it. I'm rooting for the wolves.”

“We're still waiting for conformation of catamounts too, but unfortunately it will probably take someone shooting one for the state to admit that they are in the park.”

“i think this is awesome news. i'd much rather see wolves back than moose.
nothing against moose, ofcourse - but wolves are a lot less dangerous to people and traffic.”

“There has been a lot of speculation both up here and in NYS about our huge coyotes.

I believe there is a southern grey wolf, a slightly smaller cousin of the northern grey (timber) wolf and some people think we have been mistaking them for coyotes. They have some DNA evidence to that effect. I had an article on it and I'll look for it.

There was a theory about coyotes and timber wolves breeding and spreading to here through norhtern Ontario (unlikely as they would have to cross through real timber wolf territory) or down through Minnesota (and Chicago?) into New York State, Ontario and Quebec.

In fact the first identification of a coyote in NYS could hardly have met modern scientific standards. In 1927, Fred Streever shot a 'coyote' while fox hunting with hounds in the Lake George area. He later wrote about it in his still excellent 'The North American Trail Hound'. Recent speculation suggests a grey wolf of the southern sort, some of which still (or recently) wander in Georgia. I'm not sure about that last statement.

There is no way timber wolves could move directly into NYS from Ontario or Quebec. Timber wolves live north of the St. Lawrence River and would have to wander hundreds of miles through rural, semi-urban and urban areas; just as they would have to do coming from Minnesota.

Anyway, I'll try to find the article.

I certainly hopr that these animals still exist in our part of the world. I hear howls every morning now and I think it would be great if they were a kind of grey wolf.

There is also a lot of talk about mountain lions - mostly in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, an area north of Vermont. Sightings have become so numerous and seemingly reliable that everyone is hoping that a definite identification might be made. I must admit that if I saw one while hunting I just could not bring myself to shoot (at) it. I'd report it and suffer the doubts and suspicians, but I would remain happy to know that they exist and that I had refused to reduce their number.”

“my dad and i used to shoot coyotes all the time in south GA...they would kill small calves and even some of the smaller yearlings...first one i shot i walked up to within about 25 yards and he stood staring at me...i shot him five times with a mossberg 12gauge just for fun...a little overboard but i was really mad at the time”

“It's kinda ridiculous how many coyotes that man kills for their "$20 pelts." 26 so far this year, that's just wrong.”

“That's really cool if wolves are finding their way back into the 'Dacks. It makes sense, since moose are already starting to do so on their own.”

“I've seen Coyotes on Tug hill as big as my yellow lab and he weighs 90+ lbs.... but the coyotes/wolves are probably closer to 70-80 lbs, with thick fur and leaner body. Still big though, and I have also come across many deer in the area that where chewed on, cant say if they had been killed by the coyote/wolf or not, but there where dog tracks around.....There was/is a big problem with Coy-Dogs in Tug Hill too. I have seen dead ones that look like a crummy looking Benji Dog, to ones that look like a Husky, to ones that look like a wolf.... I can hear them what ever they are howling at night every now and then.....
If they are coming back strong, there is the other scenerio of Rabbie's with them. just a thought... I think it is good they are coming back.”

“I hope we get some here in PA I really need something else to muont between the Caribou and the Mule Deer in the basement. Just kidding guys I think they are fine just knew id get some treehuggers going with that though. Actually we have a bunch of Yotes around here just saw one today it was following a heard of drre that had just gone through a few minutes before nose to the ground following..waiting...”

“I know wolves
I know wolf tracks.
There is at least one wolf in Wells.”

“Living in the city & thinking about critters is different than when they threaten your kids in your own backyard. I don't hunt game, but I do have deer that devastate my mountain laurel, bears that carry off my garbage cans from my deck & the occasional rattler.”

“It will be interesting to see whether wolves run coyotes out of town as they re-establish themselves. At some point the problems people have with coyotes could become problems with wolves, but c'est la vie!”

“I'd still welcome what catshiker described over city life anyday. It's just a matter of knowing what you're getting into and taking the appropriate measures.”