Killing Of Wolves Research Articles

A geographical perspective on the decline and extermination of the Irish wolfcanis lupus—an initial assessment

Wolves were a component of the Irish landscape until 1786 when the last one was killed. It had taken a concerted effort by Cromwell and his Government in Ireland to bring this about particularly through deforestation and landscape change. legislation, bounties and the efforts of a few professional wolf hunters. This paper estimates the wolf population in Ireland at three lime periods in the 1600s and examines how each of the forces already mentioned led to their eventual extermination. The 87 dated and documented wolf incidents which include wolf attacks on both animals and humans, wolf observations and the hunting and killing of wolves over the period 1560–1789 show both spatial and temporal variations.

A geographical perspective on the decline and extermination of the Irish wolf canis lupus— an initial assessment

Wolves were a component of the Irish landscape until 1786 when the last one was killed. It had taken a concerted effort by Cromwell and his Government in Ireland to bring this about particularly through deforestation and landscape change. legislation, bounties and the efforts of a few professional wolf hunters. This paper estimates the wolf population in Ireland at three lime periods in the 1600s and examines how each of the forces already mentioned led to their eventual extermination. The 87 dated and documented wolf incidents which include wolf attacks on both animals and humans, wolf observations and the hunting and killing of wolves over the period 1560–1789 show both spatial and temporal variations.

A Review of Wolf Predation in Southern Europe: Does the Wolf Prefer Wild Prey to Livestock?

The recent recovery of the wolf in southern Europe has not yet removed the risk of local extinction. Wolf populations are fragmented and often comprise fewer than 500 individuals. In North America, northern and eastern Europe, wolves feed mainly on wild herbivores. In southern Europe, this canid has apparently adapted to feed also on fruit, rubbish, livestock, small and medium-size mammals. The main conservation problem lies with predation on domestic ungulates, which leads to extensive killing of wolves. The reintroduction of wild large herbivores has been advocated as a means of reducing attacks on livestock, but predation on the latter may remain high if domestic ungulates are locally abundant. Our synthesis of 15 studies, published in the last 15 years, on food habits of the wolf in southern Europe, has shown that ungulates have been the main diet component overall. A significant inverse correlation was found between the occurrence (%) of wild and domestic ungulates in the diet. The presence of relatively few wild ungulate species was necessary to reduce predation on livestock. Selection of wild and domestic ungulate prey was influenced mainly by their local abundance, but also by their accessibility. Feeding dependence on rubbish was local and rare. In Italy, the consumption of rubbish/fruit and that of ungulates was significantly negatively correlated. Diet breadth increased as the presence of large prey in the diet decreased. The simultaneous reintroduction of several wild ungulate species is likely to reduce predation on livestock and may prove to be one of the most effective conservation measures.

Cross‐Boundary Management of Algonquin Park Wolves

Cross‐boundary management issues concerning the spatial requirements of large predators and the inadequate size of protected areas are exemplified by the movements of gray wolf (Canis lupus) in and out of Algonquin Park, Canada. From 1987 to 1993, 65 juvenile and adult wolves from 22 packs inside Algonquin were radio‐tagged and regularly monitored by aerial and ground telemetry. Of the 41 wolves that died during the 6‐year study, mortality caused by humans was the highest single source, at 56%. Most mortality (68%) occurred outside the park, of which almost half (48%) was related to the seasonal movements by wolves out of the park in response to migrating white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). In 1993 the provincial government banned the killing of wolves in a 200‐km2 deer wintering area adjacent to the park. The ban was considered necessary because (1) a high proportion (82%) of packs from the eastern half of the park was traveling to the deer area; (2) outside the park killing of wolves by hunting or trapping was uncontrolled; and (3) much of the mortality comprised adult, non‐dispersing wolves. Public response to the ban was hostile initially, but apart from some flagrant violations the protective measures appear to have been successful. Only 2 radio‐collared wolves were killed in 1993 and 1994 combined, compared with 10 in 1992 alone. Controversy over management decisions led us to conclude that cross‐boundary problems associated with this controversial species necessitate complete, partial, or emergency protection. Complete protection requires protection beyond the existing park boundary, either through buffer zones or increased regulation. Partial and emergency protection strategies rely on effective monitoring, an important factor if public cooperation is limited. At Algonquin the magnitude of wolf killing, the importance of the wolf in interpretive programs, and the difficulties in regulating partial protection because of unreported kills and damage to radio collars makes complete protection the prudent choice.

Observation of a Swimming Wolf Killing a Swimming Deer

Observation of a Swimming Wolf Killing a Swimming Deer