We have 2500 wolves in NE Minnesota -- my take on the "Wolf ad"

[hansolsen]

I live in NE Minnesota where we have about 2500 wolves in the local forests. Wolves never attack people, and the Bush ad plays into an old stereotype that "real" environmentalists are trying to overturn. Wolves are protected and, in fact, are great neighbors.

Furthermore, the wolves shot in the ad are not wild, adult wolves, IMO. They are quite obviously adolescent pups just reaching maturity, and were probably shot in captivity somewhere. In fact, I believe I recognize one of the wolves, the black one in the early scenes -- is a dead ringer for one at our local "wolf Center", safely behind a fence. So called "nature photographers" are forever showing up to take pictures of the tame wolf pack. Viewers beware.

In fact this ad reminds me of what Bush did with Saddam Hussein -- paint him as a big bad wolf, dripping venom and blood. It turned out Saddam was no threat to America. The wolf ad is bogus and so is George Bush.

[liberalmuse]

1. Wolves are awesome animals.

And aren't there only 2 instances of wolves attacking people in all of American history? I believe they are revered among indigenous peoples here, too.

[meow2u3]

13. I can bet the wolves were provoked

Wolves are like dogs; they never attack unprovoked unless they're rabid.

[BillZBubb]

2. Most people know nothing about wolves except Little Red Riding Hood

and the Three Little Pigs. In all of human history, there have been very, very few cases of wolves attacking humans.

As propaganda, it probably will work quite well.

[sandnsea]

3. Not true really

Maybe in cities, but most western people are very educated on wolves. And even though they can still be a nuisance to livestock, the idea that we have to share the habitat with wolves is fairly well accepted.

[sybylla]

5. Not here

If Bush played an ad in northern and central Wisconsin promising to rid us of Minnesota's wolves, he'd win hands down. There is a large rural population here that doesn't like having wolves for neighbors. And their numbers aren't any where near as high as in Minnesota.

It's got nothing to do with any misperceived threat to humans. No body I've talked to believes that. But these "great neighbors" take many animals every year from farms, pets from back yards and hunting dogs. Some packs are getting quite a reputation for nastiness.

[sandnsea]

7. I understand that

But even in Montana, the rural people, even ranchers, worked to bring the wolves back in a way that everyone could live with. And regardless of personal opinions, the vast majority came to know alot about wolves and appreciate seeing them in the wild. I bet there's more people like that in Wisconsin than you realize.

[sybylla]

9. Yeah, since I live in a closet and rarely get out

you're probably right.

What could I know, living here and all, travelling across the state, reading newspapers and meeting various groups of people? :shrug:

[hansolsen]

8. And I'll bet close to 100% of people who hate wolves will vote for Bush.

[sybylla]

10. So you like sand in your ears?

Write off the discontent at the wolf's peril.

Say there isn't a problem, pretend that those who have suffered losses or are at risk of suffering losses are ignorant Bushbots. That will only make the sitation better. /sarcasm

[hansolsen]

11. I'm sorry -- I do not understand your post??? N/T

[idiosyncratic]

18. Too bad . . .

This is off topic and I'm sure I'll get flamed, but I recently saw a show about the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Because the elk are now prey for the wolves, they move around more. Consequently, some plants, and tree saplings, that were being overgrazed are recovering.

Wolves are good for the natural environment.

Sorry . . . pets and hunting dogs should be more securely penned. David Baron talks about this in his interesting book about mountain lions in Colorado, "The Beast in the Garden".

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393058077/qid=1098575552/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-8306083-2630445?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[life_long_dem]

4. Did you see John Edwards the other day at the rally?

The big bad wolf * and the evil beta male were in Duluth this past summer, I can't believe so many people showed up at their rallies.
What's the northland turning into? I think Democrats are still the majority but there are pockets of resistance.

I think * lost some respect when he called the Iron Range the Iron Ridge. He really should do his homework before showing up somewhere.

Hopefully everything turns out o.k.

[DrBB]

6. Cute puppies ad bites Bush! W Cries Wolf

Whole thing looks like it was made by the Nature Conservancy. Atrios reports that the audience broke out in laughter when they aired it on Crossfire this afternoon. Big scary buildup, and then it ends up with cute doggies running happily toward the trainer to get their treat. Woof!

And it leaves them WIDE open to the obvious comeback: BUSH CRIES WOLF!

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. Sheep fear wolves

think of the audience it's going after.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

14. I thought I saw one of the wolves wagging its tail

just before they get up at the end.

[Randypiper]

15. boo

[farmbo]

16. Checkout WolfPacks for Truth. Org...linked from Kerry site LOL!!

http://www.wolfpacksfortruth.org/

[grasswire]

17. as I posted in another thread...

...this week was the National Park Service Wolf Awareness Week. It's an annual dedicated week to inform the public about the role of the wolf in America's forests -- a positive event.

Too bad the campaign didn't know they were piggybacking onto it.