Howdy Jed,
My favorite animal is the wolf. They creature apparently use a form of ESP
for communication between members of the pack. In the far north wolves
follow migratory animals and feed off the lag. They have been observed to
split up and establish ambush positions along the migratory trails. These
position can be some distance, out of sight and sound of other wolves in the
pack, yet, should the game elude them, they quickly re-form and re-establish
new ambush positions. A wolf is a majestic creature that is wise enough to
keep distant from the human species.
Here in central Texas, sorta midpoint between Houston, Austin and San
Antonio, the red wolf has been declared extinct. Don't believe it. They are
back evidenced by the reduction in coyotes ( natural enemies). Wolves will
breed with dogs when necessary for survival but will quickly breed back to
wolves.
An alpha male wolf has a hunting territory of some 25 miles in diameter in
our area of Texas. They divide this circle into four to six inner circles of
12 1/2 miles diameter and remain in that circle until the food is diminished
and move on to the next circle. One old timer that has since passed on was a
member of a family of " wolfers" that made a living trapping wolves on large
ranches. He told many tales of experiences and related tales from way back
when. A wolfer would never attempt to wipe out the wolf because the area
would quickly become overrun with coyotes. Coyotes bring rabies and infect
skunks and wild hogs.
We now have a ferral hog problem in the area. Ferral hogs carry a form of
hog rabies. There is some suspicion the Mexican coyote was pushed up from
Mexico due to drouth over the past 35 years. These coyotes brought rabies
and some area have greatly reduced wild animal populations as a result. We
now have Mexican mountail lions and Jaguars moving up plus a few Rocky
mountain cougars that track though the area. These cougars have a hunting
range some 200 miles across.
Of all the animals, the most dangerous in our area are wild dogs that run
in packs. These destructive creatures can enter a dairy herd and slaughter
most in a single night. They don't feed off the cows, they simply kill them
by slashes.
Me, I'll take the wolf.. cuz they are smart enough to be stay away from
humans.<grin>
Richard
