Timberwolf

[flashback]

We spent a few hours at Parc Omega, near Montebello, Quebec, Canada.

The timberwolves there are one of my favourite subjects. This was one of 11 wolves we saw this afternoon.

This is one of the more elegant, social predators around. Unfortunately oftentimes people imbue them with mystical or emotive properties when in reality, the wolf is a finely tuned hunting machine.

Not to thread jack, but would like to point out that, doing a quick search of the issues of the wold hunt in B.C. I have come to learn:
The wolves being hunted are in areas with nearly extirpated herds of Mountain Caribou. Clearly the decline of the Mountain Caribou is directly tied to the loss of habitat due to forestry as well as backcountry recreation (snow machine tracks make great roadways for the wolves to find and hunt.) The hunting of wolves is put forth as the only viable method of reducing wolf densities as the areas considered too remote for trapping, and that those that hunt wolves do so more or less spontaneously - as they come across wolves - typically not out specifically to shoot a wolf.
Many of the Mountain Caribou herds are down, some to less than 20 members and are at risk of extinction. As I understand it the issue with wolf packs and caribou herds are specifically about Mountain Caribou (those that live in a species specific habitat).
My quick interpretation of the issue is that removing wolf populations may allow these endangered herds to rebound. The other option is to allow wolf predation to continue, take it course and see the loss of one or more herds of Mountain Caribou.
But as has been pointed out, it is the loss of habitat that is causing the loss of Mountain Caribou. Wolves are very resilient and wolf populations can bounce back quickly and significantly.
I am neither for nor against the issue of wolf reduction, it is a management technique presently chosen by the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources.
I have included a number of links that look at both sides of the equation, more than anything, information rather than emotion is needed to make the best (hardest) decisions.
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/specie..._e.cfm?sid=638
http://www.naturallywood.com/sites/d...nd-Caribou.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/caribou_fs.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documen...vrystrat02.pdf
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/nature/eep-s...r3caribou.aspx
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife...ement_plan.pdf
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...says-1.2952556
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...ibou-1.2904364

[Brownbear]

Absolutely, gorgeous! Truly exquisite in every little detail!

Thank you for sharing. How close did the wolf allow you be?

[Donald]

It's got to be viewed at full size in the lightbox. A simply stunning image. My compliments, sir! Captures the very soul of the creature.