Thursday, February 26, 2009

the better to see you with, my dear


photo by Brian McMillen


This picture appeared in our local paper a few days ago. Apparently, wolves have been going on a llama killing spree about fifty miles from here.

First of all - WTH? I had no idea wolves lived around here. Maybe in the mountains, and up north (those are the huge-headed Timber wolves) but these things? Look at his eyes - he's a killer! I just think it's weird that I never knew. You'd think I would have seen one, or heard a story about one.

Do you have these where you live?

***edit***




Just to add insult to injury, I've also discovered that we have wild boars. They're not native to Alberta, but were brought here in the 90's for it's meat . Over the years they've escaped and bred and now there are about a thousand of them, and (thank goodness) the majority of them live north of Edmonton, which is quite a distance from where we are. Some of the local communities are even paying a $50 bounty if you take them a set of ears!

**edit #2**


About the Llamas - we have many Llama farms around here! Llama's, Emu's and Buffalo farms are extremely popular for those farmers that don't want to run cattle.

23 comments:

  1. No wolves here.

    Our predators go around on two legs....

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  2. he does look mean. I wouldn't want to go for nice walks in the woods there. And keep Tokyo (sp, sorry) indoors!

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  3. No wolves here.

    I'd love to see one sometime as they fascinate me - the ancestors of all domestic dogs...

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  4. Ah, wolves here. I find them beautiful and facsinating but from afar... very afar!

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  5. no wolves here. no badgers. no squirrels. no foxes. just sheep. lots and lots of sheep.

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  6. Ahhhhhhh doesn't he look cute, I want one to keep the wife company!

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  7. Wow, it's the wilderness out there! That's wonderful. My roommate saw a moose at the bottom of the road near our house here. Back where I lived, I'd only occasionally get to see a wild boar or few living in the park.

    Wolves are awesome. They are intelligent hunters and instinctively understand teamwork and economy.

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  8. I have red belly black snakes on the bike path i ride on, red back spiders in the eaves that tend do crawl on to your pillow, Sharks in the river outside my work and wild boar near the airport (which is also near said bike path). I also have an ex girlfriend in my office

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  9. Wolves here..but far and few between..

    Short story,I had a 98% pure wolf about 20 years ago.He only lived a year because he got lupus.

    As a dog person,I find his eyes slightly sad..like he's seen the end of the world and just knows that it's coming.

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  10. That's scary, but the first (selfish) thing I could think of is that that looks like a darker version of my dog.

    It's horrible that people want to put animals up on their wall. It always makes me think that it's a waste.

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  11. There has never been a verified wolf vs human attack. Like all wild animals, they need to be respected (of course), and left alone. Boars on the other hand, have been the cause of many a human injury/death. Be wary if you are in or around the woods with them.

    (We used to raise wolf-hybrids).

    Take care~ Gina

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  12. I'm sure we have wolves around in some parts down here but I've never seen one up close.I've seen plenty of possums,deers,squirrels,armadillos,snakes and lots of mosquitoes:)~

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  13. Don't think there are many wolves or boars around here. We have a big deer population out in the suburbs. People have moved out to be in nature, but are killing them because they keep coming near their jacuzzi and tennis courts. Humans!

    My question was...you have llamas?! That was stranger to me than anything. ;-)

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  14. I'm with the Lioness...exactly my question. Llamas??

    We have rabbits and mountain lions...and killer squirrels.

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  15. We have fox, and black bear here but wow, to see a wolf roaming around... that would be a trip! Hugs

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  16. No wolves. We do have a fox or two by the beach of course. We have a boatload of sharks . It is rare to see Barracuda but they are out there from time to time.

    I like the sharks and wildlife. I get a little rattled by the apex predators of course but most of the time they aren't interested in us.

    I have not seen a wolf anywhere near me. I wonder if we have them in the mountain? I know we have black bears but haven't seen any wolves or boar...Hmmm I'll have to ask.

    Bobby

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  17. WSe have dingos ( and the jury is out on them) and wild pigs inland, but the only predators in the city aside from poisonous snakes and spiders are human. We have had a rat of shark attacks on human in the previous two weeks as well. Our hold on life is always tenuous. Maggs

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  18. we have wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions that come follow the elk, moose, and mulies down from the high country when the snow gets too deep up there. i like the sound of the coyotes but hope i never hear the wolf or the mountain lion:)

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  19. We have teenage mutant ninja turtles. But, we also have punk-ass, thieving, evil little raccoons too! Bastards.

    Time to gear-up with the paintball gun for some night shootin'!!

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  20. Naw, we just have coyotes. But they are really mean and scary to listen to at night. Your updates are not showing up for me. Not sure why. Hope you have a good weekend Kate.

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  21. We have mountain lions, wild turkeys, wild boar, bobcats -- and probably coyotes.

    Generally they stay in the wild and out of the cities, but occassionally curiosity gets that cat and a mountain lion is spotted in town. There was a huge outcry a few years ago when the local police shot one.

    In the hills, which are fairly densly populated, the coyotes are deadly to pet cats.

    In our own back yard we have the usual, raccoons, skunk, possum, squirrel and birds of course.

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  22. I have seen foxes in the city along with the usual rabbits ans skunks. Wolves aren't especially bothersome unless they're bred with dogs, which are the ones you need to be wary of. Pure wolves tend to stay far away from humans, but I imagine that hunger could force them in closer.

    There's a llama farm about 30km from here. For those who know that llamas are not native to Canada, they are raised for wool and meat, and they adapt to our weather quite easily.

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