Adios, Echo... we hardly knew you.

[SepiaAndDust]

The only grey wolf to be sighted in the Grand Canyon area in the past 70 years has been confirmed to have been killed by a hunter who mistook her for a coyote.

The three-year-old female made news last November when reports started pouring in of a gray wolf along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim—the first time the endangered species had been seen in the area in more than 70 years. She wore a radio collar, and wildlife officials identified her as 914F; she'd originally been tagged in Cody, Wyoming, as a one-year-old.

But the happy news was short-lived. In December, a hunter in southern Utah shot and killed the wolf, claiming he mistook the animal for a coyote, according to Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources.

- Source

I don't know the regulations, but are you supposed to shoot things that have radio collars?

 

[pgp_protector]

The only grey wolf to be sighted in the Grand Canyon area in the past 70 years has been confirmed to have been killed by a hunter who mistook her for a coyote.



I don't know the regulations, but are you supposed to shoot things that have radio collars?

To be fair, how visible is the radio collar?

 

[Douger]

That's sad. The radio collar isn't very visible, but the hunter still should have been able to identify the animal he shot.

 

[jacknife]

if you shoot an animal with a radio collar you are required to turn the radio collar in i think (this is off of memory i'll try to find something more concret when i get home.) there expensive too i think radio collars are like 1,000$ a pop

 

[kellhus]

Saw this earlier today. Such tragic news.

 

[ulu]

do we not even get the name of the guy who blew away this wolf to make himself feel good?

 

[Inkachu]

Can't we introduce a few more wolves into the area??

 

[mkgal1]

That's so sad. It seems to me that they should have had it posted everywhere what Echo looked like since she was a protected animal. Whenever I go hiking----it seems like there's always signs that show all the indigenous animals along with their pictures. When a person gets a hunting license......isn't there information about protected animals? Isn't that a big part of the reason for even having hunting licenses?

 

[Inkachu]

All the dude had to say was "I thought it was a coyote". I mean, you can't prove what they knew or didn't know.

I don't get why there isn't some kind of wolf relocation effort, if it's SO important and exciting to have wolves in that area. Put some there.

 

[mkgal1]

I found a website that represents a group that has that as their goal:

The Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project is dedicated to bringing back wolves and restoring ecological health in the Grand Canyon Region.

......but, to me, it just looks as if their efforts are more geared towards education and awareness. Maybe wolves need to be allowed to migrate on their own (for some reason)? That---or it may literally take an act of congress to enact.

 

[ulu]

All the dude had to say was "I thought it was a coyote". I mean, you can't prove what they knew or didn't know.

.

exactly

sucks

 

[SepiaAndDust]

Can't we introduce a few more wolves into the area??

I think that Echo was part of a relocation effort. Or, at least, she was the offspring of relocated grey wolves. In Yellowstone, 500 miles away. She made a long trip, only to find that there weren't any other wolves.

 

[keith99]

All the dude had to say was "I thought it was a coyote". I mean, you can't prove what they knew or didn't know.

I don't get why there isn't some kind of wolf relocation effort, if it's SO important and exciting to have wolves in that area. Put some there.

That is a rough area, the kind you can't just dump a predator in and expect it to survive.

 

[keith99]

In both Wolves and Coyotes teh male is larger. Average male size for coyotes is 18-44 Lbs. For Female Wolves it is 79-85 Lbs.

That is one big coyote. Or more likely one dangerous hunter.

 

[craigerNY]

In both Wolves and Coyotes teh male is larger. Average male size for coyotes is 18-44 Lbs. For Female Wolves it is 79-85 Lbs.

That is one big coyote. Or more likely one dangerous hunter.

As a former hunter, trapper and fisherman he's a dangerous hunter. If not dangerous then at a minimum irresponsible for not knowing his game. I have had to determine what kind of grouse is flying away from me and what sex of pheasant is flying away from me before taking a shot. If that determination can not be conclusively made you do not take the shot. If you do not have the knowledge to make the distinction you do not hunt.

He had a clear enough eye to kill the animal, he had a clear enough eye to determine it was not a coyote. He likely lacked the brain to process the difference. Or he lacked the interest to differentiate. Or perhaps he willfully killed a non-game animal.

 

[marshlewis]

Im not sure if what im about to ask is awkward but why would shooting a coyote be cool?.

 

[jacknife]

As a former hunter, trapper and fisherman he's a dangerous hunter. If not dangerous then at a minimum irresponsible for not knowing his game. I have had to determine what kind of grouse is flying away from me and what sex of pheasant is flying away from me before taking a shot. If that determination can not be conclusively made you do not take the shot. If you do not have the knowledge to make the distinction you do not hunt.

He had a clear enough eye to kill the animal, he had a clear enough eye to determine it was not a coyote. He likely lacked the brain to process the difference. Or he lacked the interest to differentiate. Or perhaps he willfully killed a non-game animal.

i too have a very hard time believing one couldn't tell the difference between the two.

 

[craigerNY]

Im not sure if what im about to ask is awkward but why would shooting a coyote be cool?.

To a sports hunter they are a furbearer, their pelt can be sold. To others they are a nuisance animal.

 

[mkgal1]

I just came across this today:

Wolves at the Door - Video - NYTimes.com

 

[SepiaAndDust]

I just came across this today:

Wolves at the Door - Video - NYTimes.com

Informative and interesting. Thanks!