there was a wolf killed in Adams county Pa this week and another spotted

If not an accidental release I find it suspicious that a wild wolf was released in adams county...

PETA still has a fit about hunting of the (introduced)pennsylvania elk and I'd regard them as likely culprits.

I'll reserve judgement until further data becomes available.

AllanD

I find it suspicious That they are calling it a release. There is no reason that a wolf could not have travel to PA. Wolves have been know to travel hundreds of miles.

By calling it a release PA game and fish will not have to deal with the trouble wild wolves would bring.

You're DAMN RIGHT it's a release.
'Cause otherwise,the wennies would demand an EIS and that would shut down all hunting and many other activities in the area of concern until such time as an EIS was completed.And challeneged in court a few times.That's why ANY state will will argue the presence of wolves/cougars etc where they aren't currently "known" to exist.Dave

I completely agree, the Greenies would have an absolute field day with a wild wolf being found in PA if were other than a "release"

It's a release because nobody has even remotely claimed to have seen a wolf in OHIO and to get from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois where doccumented wolves have been
shot (physical evidence beats a claimed sighting) you gotta go through Ohio.

Though I Suppose it's remotely likely one could come from Ontario through NewYork, it's also highly unlikely.

to consider it anything other than a "release" opens the door to all the bad things that could happen...
It's a release.

a dead wolf as physical evidence is impossible to deny
and in general I'd rather have the presence of wolves be denied... the reasons don't need further explanation do they?

I'm not sure I'd be willing to simply give up a wolf pelt.
And under relevant PA law I'm not sure they could force me to as a wolf is considered to be an "Exotic" and like other "exotic" species can be shot on sight.

I'll just comment now that Mute Swans are very tasty... 'Nuff said.

AllanD

I'll have to disagree with the above regarding the classification of wolves and swans in PA. According the the 2005 PA Hunting and Trapping Digest, swans are classified as game birds (and also protected by Federal regs), while wolves would fall under the category "Protected Mammals: Wild mammals not classified furbearers or game animals."

Proving a wolf is wild or not might be an interesting endeavor.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but would someone provide FACTS on how the identification of a wild wolf in PA would lead to the shutting down of "all hunting"? Given the need to manage game animal populations, not to mention the $$ generated by hunting, I find it almost impossible that such a thing could happen.

The mistrust of the state game agencies is something everyone has an opinion on, though I must say that the mountain lion has attained "Bigfoot" status here in NY. The locals insist that the DEC is hiding evidence, and I've heard many people claim to have seen a mountain lion, yet I am waiting to see a pic, trailcam pic, video, footprint, scat, car-kill, livestock kill, hunter kill, hair/DNA sample or any other physical evidence that supports the idea that there is a SUSTAINABLE, WILD population here in NY (as opposed to the one or two that can be attributed to released animals). As far as I'm concerned, they are here only because many people wish they were here. I don't deny they saw something, but it more likely that they saw a domestic cat, bobcat, fisher, mink, dark coyote or dog.

Just my 2-cents worth.

quote:

Originally posted by erict:
I'll have to disagree with the above regarding the classification of wolves and swans in PA. According the the 2005 PA Hunting and Trapping Digest, swans are classified as game birds (and also protected by Federal regs), while wolves would fall under the category "Protected Mammals: Wild mammals not classified furbearers or game animals."

Proving a wolf is wild or not might be an interesting endeavor.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but would someone provide FACTS on how the identification of a wild wolf in PA would lead to the shutting down of "all hunting"? Given the need to manage game animal populations, not to mention the $$ generated by hunting, I find it almost impossible that such a thing could happen.

The mistrust of the state game agencies is something everyone has an opinion on, though I must say that the mountain lion has attained "Bigfoot" status here in NY. The locals insist that the DEC is hiding evidence, and I've heard many people claim to have seen a mountain lion, yet I am waiting to see a pic, trailcam pic, video, footprint, scat, car-kill, livestock kill, hunter kill, hair/DNA sample or any other physical evidence that supports the idea that there is a SUSTAINABLE, WILD population here in NY (as opposed to the one or two that can be attributed to released animals). As far as I'm concerned, they are here only because many people wish they were here. I don't deny they saw something, but it more likely that they saw a domestic cat, bobcat, fisher, mink, dark coyote or dog.

Just my 2-cents worth.

First off an update:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?Q=167499&A=11

Second:
Quote: "legislation clarifying that the MBTA(Migratory Bird Treaty Act) does not, and was never intended to, apply to NON-NATIVE species such as the mute swan was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the President in November, 2004. In effect, this action has returned management authority for mute swans to the states."

Currently the Mute Swan is considered an "Exotic" animal or an "Escaped domestic"
and in neither case is it protected by either state or federal law.

Both Legislation and court decisions have removed any protection from this animal.

Trumpeter Swans (a Native North American species) are protected specifically in PA
and under most state laws:
"Once considered for federal 'endangered' status, the Trumpeter is not officially listed as threatened or endangered. In the Midwest, however, it is actually more rare than the threatened Bald Eagle. It has no official state status in Midwestern states, except in Wisconsin, where it is listed as an endangered species, and in Michigan, where it is a threatened species."

Tundra Swans (aka, Whistling swan (Lewis & Clark) or "American Swan (John J. Audubon) also a native species) are an internationally regulated migratory game bird which are legal game in some states, for instance VA & NC, which have seasons on them, but if you want to hunt them seriously move to a central flyway
state. PA has no open season on them.

The Mute Swan? is when found in the wild an escaped domestic "exotic" species and under most state laws and hunting regulations
is simply ignored.

Technically (atleast in PA) it is no different from killing a domestic chicken.
Of course you must be sure it isn't someone's pet.

Shooting a Tundra or trumpeter swan can get you into big trouble, but they are easy to tell apart.
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=468&q=151756

Aim for the orange bill!


AllanD

erict,
If a supposedly wild wolf was found,or worse,a number of them, animal rights activists would misuse Federal laws and demand an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) regarding ANYTHING (and this does (and HAS) include hunting) that even remotely COULD affect said wolves.IE hunting "could" reduce prey available to them,etc,etc,etc.ANY human activity COULD disturb them.A judge could then order any and all of these activiteis curtailed until the EIS is completed.Then there are the repeated court challenges,which generally take years.Another case of weenies misusing the system to their own ends.

The greenies are usually more than willing to spend money on lawyers to prevent anything from being decided until long after the point is moot.

I think there should be a no bag limit greenie season, but that's just me....

AllanD