Yellowstone workers to kill problem wolf
By Cory Hatch and The Associated Press, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
May 16, 2009
Yellowstone National Park wildlife managers say they will try to kill a wolf in the Old Faithful area that has chased people on bicycles and motorcycles on several occasions, citing a potential threat to human safety.
Efforts to find the wolf, which have been ongoing since May 7, come as wildlife managers are trying to haze a wolf pack that has set up a den site in the Mammoth area away from developed areas. Officials say the Canyon Pack does not pose a threat to human safety at this time.
The Old Faithful wolf chased or followed one woman on her bicycle, said Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. When the woman flagged down a truck and asked for a ride, an empty oil can rolled out of the open tailgate and the wolf picked up the can and ran away.
Doug Smith, Yellowstone wolf project leader, said the park is interested in coexisting with wolves, but when wolves become habituated to people, human safety is paramount.
“When they cross a line of human safety, we get rid of the wolf,” he said, adding the wolf likely has received human food. “In the Old Faithful situation, that wolf has clearly crossed the line. I think it is a curious young animal that means no harm, but we can’t take the risk that it will hurt people.”
Bangs said actual wolf attacks on people are extremely uncommon.
“In the few instances in North America where wolves have attacked people, nearly all of them are associated with humans feeding wolves and essentially training wolves to be large dogs,” he said.
