[Cerek the Barbaric]

I believe I saw that same program not long ago myself, Moni. I agree that it was very interesting and that wolves are fascinating creatures. Then again, I consider MOST animals to be fascinating. I also agree that - MOST of the time - wolves will not attack unless "provoked". But they are wild animals, and I consider ALL wild animals to be dangerous under the right circumstances.

To say that wolves (or any other creature for that matter) would NEVER attack humans unless they were starved or threatened is just naive' in my opinon.

Nachtrafe gave an account of just such an "unprovoked" attack, only to have his story criticized by a member who lives on another continent....yet claims to have more knowledge of what prompted the attack than the person who went through it.

And to suggest that it is the farmer's fault that the wolves are attacking his animals and that he should just stand idly by as they kill the animals he depends upon for his livelihood is simply unbelievable. First off, it is very rare for ANY domesticated herd to have any "weak or old" members. They get sent to the slaughterhouse long before that happens. So the wolves are NOT doing the farmers any favors. Also, I haven't seen anybody advocate shooting a wolf for anything other than it being a threat to thier lives or livelihood, yet the "opposition" keeps "warning of the dangers of wiping out a species". Nobody here has said they hunt wolves just for sport.

Personally, I am not a hunter (even though I live in the South......shhhhhh, don't tell anybody or they may kick me out). I would NEVER kill an animal for sport. I wouldn't even hunt to put food on the table unless it were absolutely necessary (which it is NOT in today's society). I have 3 uncles who were all avid hunters, but they also ate what they killed. I see nothing wrong with that...it just doesn't appeal to me.

HOWEVER.....IF I were a farmer or rancher and a wolf (or wolves) were attacking my livestock, you better believe the only "relocation" I would do is putting them into the ground. I agree that MOST attacks on livestock are probably made by coyotes, rather than wolves. But whichever animal was attacking my herd, they're gonna get shot at.

Are wolves truly "noble"? I don't think so. Nobility is a human trait, not a canine one. Their is a strict heirarchy in the wolfpack. The alpha male and alpha female rule the pack. Others are subservient, and the weakest are little more than slaves. They are bitten, cut, and attacked by every other member for the least little "offense". They are given nothing but the leftover scraps from the kill, which is one reason they cannot grow stronger and improve their station in the pack.

Are wolves cruel, then? I don't think that's the case either. All the wolves accept the conditions of pack life. They are wolves and that's just the way things are for them.

Are wolves beautiful creatures? Without a doubt....they are gorgeous. And it is their beautifully powerful features that cause us to label them as "noble".

I also think Grizzly and Kodiak bears are beautiful, as well as tigers, cougars, and most other large cats. But the bottom line is that ALL these animals can be VERY dangerous....and I simply don't feel ANY animal deserves to live MORE than I do. So, if they threaten me or mine, I will defend myself.

THAT is "nature's way".