Reintroducing Wolves, Bears and Lynx?
Reintroducing Wolves, Bears and Lynx?
Author
Discussion

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2005
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I'm not sure its a bad idea. I'm sure the thinks like Lynx' would keep to themselves, and would not be a harm to humans, but its how they get along with the farmers beaties!
Bears would be cool! Might stop all those ramblers who insist on wearing exactly the same anorak, all 34 of them!They are thinking of doing the same thing over here, but with endangered african beasites. They want elephant, lions, etc, on the plains of the US...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4160560.stm

Might have been something on PH about this already...

Nevin

2,999 posts

291 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2005
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Why not? Wolves and lynx will seldom attack humans. Would be interesting to have some decent wildlife around.

Maybe not so keen on having bears around when I'm out walking though. Its not that big an island

liszt

4,337 posts

300 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2005
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Oh FFS.

If you want to see bears in the wild go to the Rockies in Canada.

I saw one there and having there speed and strength, I am glad there is sea between me and them.

Living in the country I have enough problems with foxes ripping my bins open. All I need is a farking bear wandering through the patio doors looking for the honey pot!


and rest.

Nevin

2,999 posts

291 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2005
quotequote all
Gazboy said:

Nevin said:
Why not? Wolves and lynx will seldom attack humans. Would be interesting to have some decent wildlife around.

Maybe not so keen on having bears around when I'm out walking though. Its not that big an island




I just don't think it's been that thought out. In Minnesota, wolves kill the average equivalent of 15 to 20 adult-sized deer per wolf per year- given that a pack contains 8-12 adult dogs, at 50kg each, that's a lot of deer required.


Like I say, its a small island.

Pit bulls and Tosas are conditioned to be around humans though, so are more likely to be near them t attack in the first place. Wolves hate being around people. Reasonable point though

jonna_rex

1,500 posts

261 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2005
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Since we have bears,lynx´s and wolfs around here among other wildlife, I do belive that if you never had them much then I think that planting them into a place which is not suitable for their needs it can be a disaster. I know that sheep owners would be in big trouble. Wolfs kill cattle, sheeps and even dogs around here.

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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We should do it just to see ramblers get mauled!!





>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 24th August 00:03

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
quotequote all
Hell.. you are probably right, off to have a cracking day out at a domino museum, or a soil mine! God their advertised days out looked so boring!

Do you remmember all the crap about how they wanted the newsletter they sent out to be the main part of the club, not the internet forum! Just shows how some of the older folk are not quite in tune with current technology! They even managed to get themselves a nice little Mk3 out of all the subscriptions!
(I only joined for the cheap dorset insurance!)

In fact.. Thinking back, they had an article in their newsletter about how to get spider out of your mirrors! Not how to change brakes, or replace a bearing, but those pesky spider out of your wing mirrors!

>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 24th August 00:40

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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IWC said:

The massive molars and powerful jaws of a wolf are used to crush the bones of its prey. The biting capacity of a wolf is 1,500 pounds of pressure per square inch. The strength of a wolf's jaws makes it possible to bite through a moose femur in six to eight bites. In comparison, a German shepherd has a biting pressure of 750 pounds per square inch. A human has a much lower biting pressure of 300 pounds per square inch.



But why would I want to bite through a moose femur?

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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What teeth?

hustlebabe

790 posts

256 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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You've tried !

Don

28,378 posts

314 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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Depite being beautiful beasts under no circumstances should we consider reintroducing these species into the UK in the wild.

Particularly bears - blimey! - who thought that was a good idea?

WE WIPED THEM OUT FOR A REASON.

In the UK, being an Island, it was possible to kill off the big wildlife. We did it because co-existing with big wildlife is problematic to farmers and people generally in the countryside. Someone wants to bugger up all that hard work and effort previous generations put in for us?!?!


We could never do it again. Politically impossible. Which is why we should never undo the good work that was done for us.

Its bad enough that due to the bleeding heart townies its getting harder to control the dangerous species we still have! (e.g. Wild boar.)

wedg1e

27,038 posts

295 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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Gazboy said:

IWC said:

The massive molars and powerful jaws of a wolf are used to crush the bones of its prey. The biting capacity of a wolf is 1,500 pounds of pressure per square inch. The strength of a wolf's jaws makes it possible to bite through a moose femur in six to eight bites. In comparison, a German shepherd has a biting pressure of 750 pounds per square inch. A human has a much lower biting pressure of 300 pounds per square inch.



Greta White shark? Twelve TONS per square inch...


Makes you think!

wedg1e

27,038 posts

295 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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There are lots of funny animals in all the world, but have you ever seen a panther that was pink?

groucho

12,134 posts

276 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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I think we should go one better and start introducing lions and baboons.

JagLover

46,766 posts

265 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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One of the reasons that the fox is such a problem is that it's natural; predators have been wiped out.

However I'm a walker myself and wouldn't fancy meeting a wolf on a nice stroll in the countryside.

D_Mike

5,301 posts

270 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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I don't see a problem with it... They wouldn't approach humans unless they are desperate for food and as long as their numbers are managed so they have a reasonable population density and enough prey, where is the harm?

Besides, fishing for salmon in scotland would suddenly get a lot more exciting if a massive brown bear came along.

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

290 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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I'd be happy with wolves and lynx but not the bear. A bear would come into close proximity with humans and learn to visit Mcdonalds. Wolves would keep a safe distance from people.

Boosted.

ZR1Cliff

17,999 posts

279 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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Dont know if its a good idea increasing the size of the road kill,imagine driving down the M3 and seeing a bloody great BigFoot staggering towards you like a Pi***d up paddy,its bad enough dodging suicidal rabbits.
Going by what ime seeing at nights when ime driving i think the British wild life is Flourishing,ive never seen so many foxs,badgers and Deer ,its great to see and it would be great to reintroduce some of the old lines back into the forests,did they not try this with the Eagles?

Don

28,378 posts

314 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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Boosted, Mike: Have you guys ever been up close and personal with a wolf?

I HAVE.

I'm an (occasional) supporter of a Wolf Conservation Trust in my area. Absolutely brilliant. If you donate then once a year you can take a car full of people to a "walk". This involves taking the wolves they have in captivity for a walk in the woods. You get to go along. You have to take a LOT of special precations: e.g. no clothes made of leather.

Going for the walk was a real experience.

The animals are absolutely beautiful. And worthy of protection and preservation.

In no way do I want them back in the wild.

They are hugely strong. MUCH stronger than an Alsatian/Husky/ other large dog. Their jaws are as strong as a Lion's...they could bite your arm clean off if they thought to.

The Trust's wolves have been socialised by being in contact with humans from birth...but they do not "tame" like dogs. They are still very, very dangerous...the handlers use CHAINS not leads and are really careful around them.

My experience of meeting them, having one rub itself against me, sniff my crotch (!) , and try to make friends instilled a great sense of respect in me. Enough to know these things should not be running around loose if we can help it.

They may choose to avoid humans. But if hungry (and not socialised) they would consider us food and attack if they got the chance - and no human is going to stand up to one of them, let alone two or three, without a gun and plenty of ammo - and perhaps not even then.

cotty

42,237 posts

314 months

Wednesday 24th August 2005
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andy mac said:

In fact.. Thinking back, they had an article in their newsletter about how to get spider out of your mirrors! Not how to change brakes, or replace a bearing, but those pesky spider out of your wing mirrors!



Havent still got the article have you