Mountain Lions, Coyotee's, etc. Beautiful Animals !

[theman]

These beautiful animals are coming down from the hill's , due to the drought.  They are looking for food, water, etc.. Mountain Lions are walking through school yards with youngens in play grounds.  Beautiful cat's , but cat's are like rabbit's and welfare people they all multiply and have youngens and more youngen's and then it comes to having to do something ! .  So the end of Dec. we have a 100 cat limit.  Not gonna be enough.  And it is to bad.  There is one group that I mentioned  , No limit.  Just sayen , I love ANIMAL'S !   

[buddha]

First off let me say that I'm not a hunter. I have no objection to it, I just don't find it to be something that I'm able to get excited about.
Up here in northern Wisconsin it is said that we have a wolf problem. I don't know what the numbers are so I can't argue from that point of view. I've been up here over 10 years and have never seen one of these animals up close but I don't feel threatened by them. Maybe I'm wrong about that but it's how I feel. I know they're around and I show them respect in that I don't go out looking for them. They go their way and I go mine.
One of the arguments in favor of the wolf hunting season is that they are a threat to livestock. I understand that but I don't know that it's justification for selling licenses to people who just want to go out in the woods and shoot something. Let the farmers/ranchers handle whatever problem walks into their yard looking for an easy meal.
The other argument is the threat the wolves pose to humans. I have yet to hear or read about a wolf attack on a human up here. I know that one of the groups lobbying for wolf hunting is the hunters themselves. As I said earlier I am not against hunting.....many up here hunt in order to eat. But unless I'm mistaken most hunters venture forth armed. The fact that wolves do everything they can do to avoid their 2 legged bretheren doesn't seem to affect the level of fear exhibited by some (not all) of those who hunt. Many people who are vocal on this topic want an end to wolves in this state entirely.
Maybe it's my background but I find the idea of sitting in a tree stand waiting for a deer to walk under me so I can shoot it to be monotonous at best. For me the idea of stalking them and ground hunting seems much more interesting. Add to that the idea that ever so often I have to "check my six" to see if something else is looking at me and seeing a two-legged cheeseburger and now you got a game! THAT, to me, makes it interesting!
Of course if my grandkids are threatened by a problem animal, and those do exist, then I have to get involved to the extent that the animal in question no longer poses a threat. That might entail having some entity trap and move the animal or it might require action of a more direct and immediate nature. I, personally, prefer the idea of trap and move but I don't think I'm above the alternative.

[theman]

Budda , I totally agree, in my younger years it was the man thing to do was hunt.  I was darn good at it , it carried over to later years of hunting men.  (criminals)  I do not have a problem with that but like animals, and unless I have to kill one critter for good, or they are a threat I will not do it.    I do not taking any life of a animal of the furry kind,  I do not have a problem with the other kind .

Going to the market and buying my meat I always say a prayer over it and also the fish I catch. 

Great post and thank you for your comment !  It is appreciated ! 

[Beardman]

We have similar problems with Kangaroos in Australia, while they don't pose a threat to humans. They do directly compete with livestock, so the farmers don't like them. And because some bright spark put up a "rabbit-proof fence" to keep the rabbits out, they also trapped the dingos (kangaroos only native predator) in the north of Australia, any south of the fence were killed off because they were a "threat to the the livestock", there we go there is an example in itself haha, but I digress. Anyways because of this, we now have a problem when the conditions are right with a massive over population of Kangaroos, which normally ends in a mass culling of them.

There has been similar calls over the years for dingos as well, I don't know if you guys hear much about them, but every few years some tourist, normally a kid, gets attacked by a dingo... so people get up in arms and say they need to be culled to reduce the risks or some other dribble. Koala's I think have had a similar thing in some areas...

I know in New Zealand they have been known to go to their off-shore islands and just bait/trap/shoot every pest species on the island, in order to make them a sanctuary for their native wildlife.

I'd like to add, I am not entirely against the idea, as long as it is from a sustainability/conservation point of view, it is the senseless killing of the weekend warriors that I don't agree with...

[slymyke]

I guess the animal that my area in Central Florida is most known for is alligators.  I live about 9 miles from a the 10,000 acre Lake Jessup, the largest population of alligators in Florida, and the highest concentration of alligators per acre in North America (over 10,000 per acre).  There is a bridge that crosses over the lake, and if you drive over it early in the morning, you can sometimes see several  gators hanging out at the surface...  (you wouldn't want to crash over the railing..lol)     Lake Jessup is part of a chain of lakes that are connected to the St. John's River.  This river is one of a few in the United States that runs North.  Since I no longer live in a coastal town, I have grown attached to Florida's inland beauties as well.

[tomgallagher]

After watching that show "Swamp People" a number of times I started feeling sorry for the alligators.

[theman]

Also don't you have alot of snakes there?  I received a call from a buddy of mine in Wyo, they are still having a Wolf problem there.  Guess no matter where you go, there's going to be some kind of critter.   

[tomgallagher]

You should see the critter problem we've got in Philly.

[theman]

You should see the critter problem we've got in Philly.

;)Yes Tom, those 2 legged critter's, sure as the heck ain't pretty.  And I do believe they should be taken out at and Target of Oppurtunity ! 

[Mike]

Beardman, I enjoy biogeography so I know much about all the animal issues in AUS. I have a few friends that live there. We have a pet cockatoo but when I post pics on facebook, some of my aussie friends mention how they cull huge flocks because they are so destructive.

 Here in our area, we have many pests. We had a cougar hanging out in the trees next to us for a bit, looked like a young male. He didn't ever do any damage, just passing through. We also have a major issue with coyotes, every year we tend to lose at least 50 birds to them. The wolves are moving in as well, there was a wolf attack on a sheep flock not too long ago. A wolf was hit on the highway close to the city recently. I personally would much rather deal with the coyotes than wolves, wolves will kill a person and take down large livestock like horses. The coyotes have never messed with our horses or goats but I know wolves would.

 Something I have a problem with lately is the over population of deer. We have so many that are over populated, I have a feeling that if we have a good hard winter, many will starve due to the carrying capacity.

[theman]

Yes Mike, Deer are a problem.  We have a town believe it is Pierre m SD where the PD, has to take down the population.  After they are tested for any diease they will be given to the folks that are with out jobs and such to feed their family's !  Heck of alot better that hitting one with a vehicle and both are wastsed !   

[theman]

I do not like saying I like to see any animal suffer.  That is the furry kind  !  Tom you will pick up on this . 

A poor big Doe tried to cross the city street,   she was suffering .  I called 911 reported it and of course they said just stay there.  So what about this critter?  Someone will be there shortly. Don't do anything !  Yeah Right !  Poor deer , hurt scared and in pain , I put it out of it's misery and hauled it to the side of the road !  Young cop came, 15 min later !  Asked Why ?  I just looked at him and said gut him and out and try to save the meat for people that can't feed there family's ! 

Done Deal !   

[tomgallagher]

My late uncle owned a farm in Oz and said he used to cull those flocks of cockatoos on a regular basis but he hinted that that was illegal. He used to tell me, his station (ranch) his rules.

[theman]

My late uncle owned a farm in Oz and said he used to cull those flocks of cockatoos on a regular basis but he hinted that that was illegal. He used to tell me, his station (ranch) his rules.

Kinda like moonshine !   

[theman]

I know that some game has to be put down  I don't like it but accept it ! I do not agree with poaching, killing, any animal's  , furry , repitile, etc.. Unless it is needed and you use everybit of the critter.  And clean it and give it to people to feed their family's , and only that !  The Buffalo that roamed the hill's and the native american's that used them for their homes, warmth, spoons, every part of the Bison was used.     And then had hunter's that came and slaughtered just for KILLING !  Not right then or now !