WILDLIFE INFO

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WOLVES

Wolves are social animals that live and hunt in packs. They are mainly hunted for Sport and to protect livestock. They have been actively hunted for hundreds of years as soon as they started to pose a threat to livestock. They were nearly driven to extinction in the lower 48 states due to the conflicts with farmers and ranchers. When the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973 the road to reintroduction was on its way. In 1995 Gray Wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone Lamar Valley. Researches at Washington University in 2004 found that killing Wolves to keep them from attacking livestock is counter-productive. Killing Wolves can break up packs and have a difficult time bringing down large prey and force them to find easier prey like cattle or sheep.

COYOTES

Coyotes are considered solitary and nocturnal animals that live and hunt in packs but sometimes hunt alone or in pairs. They are killed by trapping, snaring, guns and hunting dogs and even run down by Snowmobiles. Once killed trappers skin them and their fur is sold and sewn into the hoods of jackets and coats. Killing coyotes is counterproductive and a threat to a healthy ecosystem. Killed or removed from an area will quickly be replaced by others. They reproduce by breeding at an earlier age and have larger litters.

BEAVERS

Beavers are semiaquatic rodents that spend a lot of time creating dams to make ponds. There are two species of Beavers, the North American Beaver and the Eurasian Beaver. They are trapped (sometimes with underwater cable devices so they drown) as they can be considered a nuisance. They are also trapped for their fur and their meat.

BEARS

Both Black and Grizzly Bears are hunted. Most often by a practice called ‘bear baiting’. This is where a hunter puts out human food and waits for bears to find it and then shoots them. Baiting Bears is dangerous for humans as well as the bears get accustomed to the smell of garbage, the garbage that the hunters introduced to them in the first place. This practice is also not good for the environment as human trash left in the woods can contaminate water sources and damage plants. Very often bear baiting results in the death of cubs and young females which hurts the bear population. Hunters also use hunting dogs to chase bears up trees where they can get a clear shot.

MOUNTAIN LIONS (Cougar)

Mountain Lion habitat is threatened by Human development and killed for potential threats to other animals and humans and also hunted for Trophies.

PRAIRIE DOGS

Prairie Dogs are hunted and killed because they can destroy farm crops and compete with livestock for Forage. They burrow holes in the ground that are considered dangerous to cattle and horses.

RACCOONS

These bandit-masked animals are found just about anywhere, and considered pests. They are often trapped and killed and rarely relocated. Since Raccoon fur prices have dropped dramatically there maybe fewer trappers out in the field. (2020-2021)

FOXES

Red or Gray fox hunting is still allowed in some states in the U.S. Each state must follow specific regulations. They are trapped and killed for their fur or for being a nuisance. They have been raised in fur farms in horrible conditions for many years . Fortunately fur farms have closed in many countries or will be closed and phased out entirely due to the fact that wearing animal furs has fallen out of favor by the public for its cruelty.

BOBCATS

Bobcats are part of the Lynx family. Approximately 40,000 Bobcats are killed each year by hunters in the U.S. The ever growing human population and its destruction of habitat is the main cause of Bobcat and human conflicts. Often Bobcats are killed on roads annually.