Wolves in Scotland

[simon ess]

I suddenly find myself thinking in a Scottish accent. Sort of appropriate to the thread but entirely inappropriate to post here.

Something to do with Heather's thicket.

I'll leave it there.

Oh, wolves. On balance, I'm for it. It's been done elsewhere but would need careful management.

 

[fracster]

The big problem that I see with it is this, wolves being carnivores will always take the easiest meal. Now Mr Wolf is not going to chase a red deer around the Glens when he can go and grab a sheep from a fenced field. Bit like if I lived next to a kebab shop, there would be little home cooking done.

I`m not saying it is right or wrong and can certainly see both sides of the argument, I don`t believe them to be a danger to humans unless they run short of food. Yes, Scotland, like the north of England is over grazed by deer and sheep, deer are culled and sheep go to market, will the introduction of wolves really aid this problem? I`m not sure.

 

[Dr_O]

lol, you guys

back on track, maybe we actually discussed the introduction of wolves on a run tonight- in the highlands. bring it on was the consensus. I fancy my chances anyway- I've been attacked by 9 people at once before when on the doors and beat 'defended myself admirably and even helped with first aid'- how hard can wolves be.

I did used to annoy the vegetarian contingent when at university because I couldn't afford meat so I hunted for it instead. The flat always head deer, pheasant and rabbit. It did confuse the 'you wouldn't eat it if you had to kill it brigade- ' I did kill it - and gut it'

Still, like to seem some wolves though- and I wouldn't hunt them

 

[Dr_O]

The big problem that I see with it is this, wolves being carnivores will always take the easiest meal. Now Mr Wolf is not going to chase a red deer around the Glens when he can go and grab a sheep from a fenced field. Bit like if I lived next to a kebab shop, there would be little home cooking done.

I`m not saying it is right or wrong and can certainly see both sides of the argument, I don`t believe them to be a danger to humans unless they run short of food. Yes, Scotland, like the north of England is over grazed by deer and sheep, deer are culled and sheep go to market, will the introduction of wolves really aid this problem? I`m not sure.

You're not wrong Ade- i'd like to see a bit more control over where sheep roam anyway and it does come down to where the wolves would be released- Scotland is pretty rural remember. The amount of time I'v come round a corner on my bike to have some bloody sheep in the middle of the road beggars belief. That's not to mention the over populated deer at roadside.

It's not straightforward but I don't think it's insurmountable either.

 

[Tigger.ufo]

I suddenly find myself thinking in a Scottish accent. Sort of appropriate to the thread but entirely inappropriate to post here.

Something to do with Heather's thicket.

I'll leave it there.

Excuse me?

 

[Gremlin]

You're not wrong Ade- i'd like to see a bit more control over where sheep roam anyway and it does come down to where the wolves would be released- Scotland is pretty rural remember. The amount of time I'v come round a corner on my bike to have some bloody sheep in the middle of the road beggars belief. That's not to mention the over populated deer at roadside.

It's not straightforward but I don't think it's insurmountable either.

Where I used to live the sheep were in fields with dog proof fencing, a right pain when it blocked footpaths. so the farmers had to put
in pull up hatches so people could cross them with dogs, on lead of course
So it would be possible to keep the wolves away from the sheep, just cost a fair bit, which wouldn't be liked much

 

[nass]

I think it'd be cheaper just to have a compensation scheme for sheep rather than trying to fence off 50,000 acres

I doubt it'll happen because of local and political opposition, but the programme I saw recently on the effects of this in Yellowstone sheds this in a very positive light. They had an elk problem there in much the same way some of the Highlands have a deer problem.

Just don't ask me to go camping there when there are wild wolves roaming about .