wild things

**trax** · 01-28-2009, 02:42 PM

Read a newspaper article the other day that was about animal sightings in different areas of Manitoba in the last year or two, specifically; brown bears, cougars, whooping cranes and pronghorns. All of them were considered hunted out in Manitoba since the early 20th century and they're starting to make a comeback. I know two winters ago I tracked a cougar in the area about 100 miles north of where marcraft hails from, and Manitoba Conservation was still claiming there weren't any cougars in Manitoba. Then about a week later a farm couple got an awesome photo of a cougar running through their back yard and it made the front page of both the big papers in Winnipeg. I'm just throwing this out there because I'm not sure what's bringing them back, although I think it's a good thing. Maybe...less hunting being done? But there's still more encroachment by humans on their natural habitats. I know deer are traveling farther north and moose are coming farther south (attributable to the cut lines that Manitoba Hydro has gashed up all of our forests with), so are coyotes and wolves, doing the south-north transit.. and the caribou herd is starting to come as far south as it did decades ago, the herd's growing so it would have to for food, but I'm perplexed by the re-introduction of these other critters. Thoughts? Anyone?

**nell67** · 01-28-2009, 02:47 PM

Over the past week,I have seen 2 wolves while traveling home from work,they have been out of the area for decades,but were reintroduced by the government a few years ago,these are the first I have ever seen personally,and are about 10 miles from where the original ones were let go.One crossed the road in front of me,then turned around and watched me pass by,beautiful animal.

**Pal334** · 01-28-2009, 03:12 PM

We are even seeing more black bear and bob cats in some parts of New Jersey! I am guessing is due to conservation efforts?

**Runs With Beer** · 01-28-2009, 05:58 PM

You can say what you want about Wildlife Conservation, But it works. There are more Whitetail deer in the US than ever. That has to be a good thing.

**SARKY** · 01-28-2009, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Runs With Beer

You can say what you want about Wildlife Conservation, But it works. There are more Whitetail deer in the US than ever. That has to be a good thing.

And tasty too!
I retired from the Navy 15 years ago. The 5 years before that I was a SERE instructor on the 13,000 acres that the Navy owns in northern Maine. We were seeing what appeared to be cougar/mountain lion on the property, usually at dusk. so I wouldn't doubt that these critters are migrating everywhere.

**trax** · 01-28-2009, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Runs With Beer

You can say what you want about Wildlife Conservation, But it works. There are more Whitetail deer in the US than ever. That has to be a good thing.

Man wiping out most of the natural predators would have something to do with that, though

**klkak** · 01-28-2009, 11:08 PM

I don't really care which way or what wildlife migrates to where ever. Just as long as the "Bigfoots" and "Snakes" stay out of Alaska!!!

**bullwinkle** · 01-29-2009, 12:01 AM

I think it's a sign of many things going on in the environment...the weather patterns, food sources, predators, global warming, etc. These animals are re-acting to the changes taking place...it's all about survival of the species.

**canid** · 01-29-2009, 02:11 AM

no bigfeet in alaska? that's discrimination. maybe just in southeast? i'd welcome them there, if i where back home.

back on topic though, i noticed in 04 that there where a lot more wolves in idaho that there where supposed to be, and specific breeding packs in areas there there where believed to be none. some of these areas where quite populated and public, such as one pack bordering it's range on the whitetail resort's golf course.

as to the question of why we're seeing more of them in spite of the encroachment of people, it is [in part] precisely because of that encroachment, as more people are living in, or moving in areas that have to harbor the same number of such animals, at least until other [often related] factors impact the populations.

**trax** · 01-29-2009, 06:42 PM

Canid, your point works for species that were in an area all along, (I'm thinking suburban sprawl/coyotes) but these species....I have personally never seen a brown bear or whooping crane in Manitoba and I have been all over in the wilds in Manitoba in my life....were supposedly extirpated in the early 20th century. They're coming back from somewhere else, now for a whooping crane that would be relatively easy, what with flying and all, but it seems like a pretty long walk for a brown bear.

**crashdive123** · 01-29-2009, 06:54 PM

Could be metrosexual bears.

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**RBB** · 01-29-2009, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by trax

and the caribou herd is starting to come as far south as it did decades ago, the herd's growing so it would have to for food, but I'm perplexed by the re-introduction of these other critters. Thoughts? Anyone?

We had caribou in NE Minnesota when my grandfather was young. I've heard tell it was the same herd that is now seen in the area of Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. Grandfather used to say there was a blight of the reindeer moss in 1918 and they never returned. Love to see them come back.

**Sourdough** · 01-29-2009, 11:18 PM

So this thread is really about animals.....? When I saw the title "Wild Thing", guess who I assumed Trax was talking about....????

**palm stalker** · 01-29-2009, 11:44 PM

oh god, hope, nell didnt like u when u were friends..

**Ole WV Coot** · 01-30-2009, 01:15 AM

We got some strange "things" around here too. Have 4 that live above the laundry in town. They only attack if you have dope or money but the deer are downright pests. My "attack" beagle just watches them go bye and don't even bark. You can drive anytime and kill one per mile. Last time in N. ME saw plenty of moose, but no deer. Coyotes, a few bear and other sightings I was told about after drinking some bad shine. I have seen more deer, bear, turkey, coyotes and rattlesnakes. I don't think many people go into the hills to hunt now, just to cultivate their cash crops. Maybe that's why they are coming here?