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Post by paulette on Feb 18, 2012 13:49:48 GMT -6
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Post by skywalker on Feb 18, 2012 22:00:52 GMT -6
Throughout history there are many tales and legends of certain predators who developed a taste for human flesh. These so-called "man-eaters" come in all shapes and sizes, from lions, tigers and bears, to sharks, crocodiles and even walruses. It is said that once a predator starts eating people they never go back to other animals...possibly because humans taste better or maybe they are just easier to catch and kill. Nowadays we can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like living with a ferocious predator on the loose. We have killed off most of the predators that used to exist in this country. Now people routinely go out hiking in the woods in bear or wolf country without without the slightest worry of what might be hiding in the bushes or waiting around the next curve in the trail. I often wonder if sometimes we take things to lightly. It would have been much different hundreds of years ago when walking out of the house was a life and death situation. I don't think I would like to go back to living like that.
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Post by skywalker on Feb 18, 2012 22:05:35 GMT -6
From reading the story it sounds like the weird creature was the "deformed wolf" whatever that means. I don't think it said exactly how it was deformed. The killings stopped after it was killed though so that must be it. I would also guess that a lot of the attacks were made by other wolves rather than just one critter.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 1:32:42 GMT -6
There were a pair of lions that developed a taste for tender human..in fact I think they made a movie about it..ghosts in the darkness or something like that..Val Kilmer too I think..but the story was real.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 20:33:06 GMT -6
Val Kilmer and one of the Douglas' guys?? Yeah. I read about it years ago in a condensed Reader's Digest. It doesn't seem to happen very often. And the reason why cows used to have to go on trial. Lol. Thanks for the article, Paulette. The picture they gave for the creature, reminds me of something that has been seen more recently, in other territories? Hopefully I can find what I'm talking about. I don't want to think its a wolf. Wolves, IMO, are very smart, but sheep and mice are so much more juicy and tender than a human. I have a book by Farley Moffat, set in Alaska, where he was sent by the government to study wolves. Even with these studies (the wolves main diet was mice; just occasional caribou) we can't help but fear an unfriendly "dog". In fact, it was prov-en that the caribou population was suffering from the greedy human hunters, but let's not let that fact out . To me, those wolves continue to show they're smart by actually helping the "caribou nation", if you know what I mean. A few years ago, over in Kansas, there was a team of rottweilers that attacked some children right at their bus stop. One boy got up a tree; another not so lucky. The bus pulled up, and saw the whole thing. These Rotts were someones pet. They stood around after-wards ? Probably had been trained to not go immediately home to their master? Yeah right. Taste for human flesh? Experts agree that this is an aberration. A sick animal. And now we can term it "paranormal". Now I truly have the willies.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 21:04:22 GMT -6
There was a story about a woman who lived up here in Alaska (Southcentral I believe) who was a special ed teacher. She was eaten by wolves and dragged off into the woods while going for an early morning jog during summer vacation around a lake somewhere...
Saying that wolves don't have a taste for human flesh is a lie. Sorry JC, but that's the truth. I've read too many articles in the local newspapers about wolf attacks on humans to believe otherwise.
The hunting regulations here are extremely strict. Most people aren't stupid enough to go after Caribou when it isn't hunting season... (jail time for a loooooooong long time...) but still some people still do it I'm sure... usually people who hunt Caribou live in rural areas who live a "Subsistence" lifestyle. A lot of the Alaska Natives hunt Caribou to survive. It's a big part of their diet in certain areas on the North Slope... they are the only "authorized" hunters during certain times of the year...
Wolves are dangerous. They are dangerous to other animals AND to people. I'm sure that mice are a lot easier to catch though than a Caribou... that makes a lot of sense that they eat a lot of mice...
But wolves DO attack people. They try to avoid us for the most part... but when they are hungry (maybe when they've eaten all the mice...) and a human is nearby they WILL go after her!
That's the wonderful thing about nature. The drive to survive is extremely powerful in wild animals. Wolves don't stop and think, "Oh wow, a human. I don't think I want to eat a human tonight, a field mouse would go better with this bottle of wine I've got..." They probably think, "Wow, a human might have a gun and shoot us... that would be a difficult kill... we should go after something easier..."
But when something easier isn't available... yep. Mrs. Johnson going for an early morning jog is fair game.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 21:08:53 GMT -6
That's why the wolf population needs to be controlled... when their population explodes attacks on humans and other endangered species increases drastically. That's why they've started shooting the wolves to control their population. A few years back they did a new "humane" way to control their population. They would tranquilize the alpha male of a pack and neuter him. This method seemed to work great up until fairly recently. Apparently the wolves figured it out after awhile so... it's not so effective anymore...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 2:19:10 GMT -6
Thanks lorelei! (a lot of my books are old). I have heard of mountain lions attacking people on trails, and of course the bears have gotten so they just walk up and raid coolers. Even when I went to the wolf shelter summer of 2010, they claimed that wolf packs were few and far between . So my idea of wolves attacking has always been "Hollywood". Movies about wolves starving in the future, and like this new movie "the Grey".
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 2:41:55 GMT -6
Well it depends on where you are JC... which part of the US or Canada were you at at the wolf shelter? Alaska is a vast wilderness... we are the biggest state... and yet have the lowest human population... yea... A lot of my friends at the university were telling me all of this stuff about how wolves never attack people (unless they're sick with rabies or very very hungry...) and about how we need to respect them and love them. It's hard to respect a wolf when he's circling around you, growling at you like one did to me once when I went for a walk... he popped right out of the woods in front of me, and I heard a rustling behind me and turned slowly to look over my shoulder and saw another one sneaking up behind me... also growling low at me... you know what that means... yea... I was in BIG trouble... and I of course didn't have a gun on me... In THAT situation you don't stop and think, "Oh the poor wittle puppy dogz! I don't want to shoot them because they don't have a taste for people!" Yea... riiiiiight... I'm sure that's what that special ed teacher thought too... until she found herself running for her life and being ripped to shreds by their teeth... Woles eat their pray alive... I'm sure it was not a pleasant experience... I was lucky that I knew how to deal with wild canines (learned it in school...) They actually respond to psychology just like people do... have you ever seen the Dog Whisperer? Mmm hmm... The absolute WORST thing to do in that situation is run... because then their hunting instinct kicks into overdrive... that's why some dogs chase cars... it's pure instinct... I was able to escape from them. Apparently they weren't really that hungry... still though... if I had reacted wrong to their threat I might not be here typing about it today...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 2:47:39 GMT -6
And they don't smell fear... they can figure it out by your body language... it's all about the body language with canines... be confident and alpha female-like... don't make them feel challenged and DO NOT RUN!! If you do that... they usually won't mess with you... unless... they're hungry...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 3:08:30 GMT -6
Here's a Wikipedia Article about wolf attacks: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_attacks_on_humansSome interesting excerpts I found in this article are: 1 Though most Native American tribes revered wolves, their oral history confirms they were attacked by wolves on occasion, long before the arrival of European settlers. Woodland Indians were usually most at risk, as they would often encounter wolves suddenly, and at close quarters. An old Nunamiut hunter, in an interview with author Barry Lopez, said that wolves used to attack his people, until the introduction of firearms, at which point the attacks ceased.[10] 2 In modern times, as humans begin to encroach on wolf habitats more contacts are being recorded. Often the contact is because the person is walking their pet dog, and the wolf pack considers the dog a prey item, inciting an attack.[12][13][14][15] Retired wolf biologist Mark McNay compiled 80 events in Alaska and Canada where wolves closely approached or attacked people, finding 39 cases of aggression by apparently healthy wolves, and 29 cases of fearless behavior by non-aggressive wolves.[16] 3 Attacks due to provocation have occurred, usually involving shepherds defending their flocks, though none recorded fatalities.
[1] Unprovoked attacks by non-rabid wolves are rare, but have happened. The majority of victims of unprovoked healthy wolves tend to be women and children.[1] Historically, attacks by healthy wolves tended to be clustered in space and time, indicating that human-killing was not a normal behavior for the average wolf, but rather an atypical behavior that single wolves or packs developed and maintained until they were killed.[23]
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 10:58:33 GMT -6
We (humanity) has done such a fine job of breeding that we've pushed the wild things into a proverbial corner and sometimes they come out swinging..teeth bared. I can't blame them in the least. Deer, moose, bear, wolves and other critters wander into populated areas because we've demolished their natural habitats AND the natural predators all of those animals have. We have problems now in our area with mountain lions attacking people and even the occasional coyote (and they are very timid animals). Of course the ones who lose out are the wild ones with only the occasional human getting mauled or worse. In the ocean..it's the sharks on land it's whatever feels cornered. We are a bit of a plague as far as spreading goes Indian used to live in harmony with his environment..we just shove it aside and expect it to be no bother to us. We want to see something wild..hey we go to a zoo.. Yay us.
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Post by paulette on Feb 20, 2012 11:47:01 GMT -6
While we are on the eating humans topic (and I realize I brought it up)...part wolf/part dog is apparently the most dangerous - particularly if they are wild. The dog aspect is more comfortable being near humans. The wolf probably avoids humans unless they have delicious little pets with them or cattle or sheep. They are incredibly high strung attentive animals.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 14:04:42 GMT -6
It's hard to respect a wolf when he's circling around you, growling at you like one did to me once when I went for a walk... he popped right out of the woods in front of me, and I heard a rustling behind me and turned slowly to look over my shoulder and saw another one sneaking up behind me... also growling low at me... you know what that means... yea... I was in BIG trouble... and I of course didn't have a gun on me... In THAT situation you don't stop and think, "Oh the poor wittle puppy dogz! I don't want to shoot them because they don't have a taste for people!" Yea... riiiiiight... I'm sure that's what that special ed teacher thought too... until she found herself running for her life and being ripped to shreds by their teeth... Woles eat their pray alive... I'm sure it was not a pleasant experience... I was lucky that I knew how to deal with wild canines (learned it in school...) They actually respond to psychology just like people do... have you ever seen the Dog Whisperer? Mmm hmm... The absolute WORST thing to do in that situation is run... because then their hunting instinct kicks into overdrive... that's why some dogs chase cars... it's pure instinct... I was able to escape from them. Apparently they weren't really that hungry... still though... if I had reacted wrong to their threat I might not be here typing about it today... This is MY defining point. Knowing someone who has personal experience. If it makes anyone feel any better, I went to sleep last night with "red riding hood" and "the three little pigs" on my mind . This is all good for argument and opinions (this topic). My overall concern is that when people read what I post, do they get the impression that I am open-minded? I try to convey that: from going from what I've read, heard, and seen for myself (wolf habitat, wolf hybrids, etc.), to being in touch with what I consider to be realistic (hungry, strong, unfriendly wild dog). I'm glad the "focus" became the "unfriendly wild dog" . I'm not going to base my going camping in the wild on a scientists thoughts from a laboratory . Another reason I think I'm so glad guns were invented. A sharp instrument only helps temporarily with a pack of wild dogs. From the story paulette posted, in the past, even a lone "aberration" could barely be beaten off by a stick. I'm also having a good laugh, lorelei. When YOU saw a picture of my beautiful husky lounging in his pool, you made those same "mewing" sounds about petting him ;D . I had the temptation to post pictures of him fighting a doberman pincher, or even his "laughing" face. He is my dog because I have made it very clear that I'm the alpha. He is a dog, so yes I do the "mewing" and all that, but I never left him alone with my kids until we had him for at least 2 yrs. I trust my dtrs. will be safe with him out for walks, and safe from him, now. Still, just naturally watch out for the sharp teeth. If he ever attacks a person, I'm not going to be thinking "ok, now what did you do first.....is he just defending himself?" . People may think its cool to have a wolf, lion, or bear, etc. for a pet. We have seen things released into the wild later, and they remember their former owner. My question is why have that creature for a pet? Really, why? I can admit I chose my husky specifically for his size and bark. I knew I could grow to love him, and would try my best to be worthy of his protection. Would he grow to love me? As close as we are, I know better than to let him off his leash to chase a deer (we have plenty of them around), or even a cute little bunny. It is very tempting to do so, though, because he looks so happy! So, I'm also trying to convey my "tenderheartedness" towards animals, also, Ok? The shelter I went to is in Dillon, Colorado. I can recall thinking that "Colorado will never be tamed". People get over-confident.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 17:01:40 GMT -6
Don't get me wrong- I'm an animal lover too JC... I just don't love the wild ones... I am wary of them, I am aware of them, and I try to keep my distance and they normally try to do the same... which is how it should be IMO... But if the population rises too high... many many problems arise here... and they wolves venture out of their habitat into ours looking for food... I admit, Jo and Paulette, humans have indeed reduced the wolf's natural habitat because of overpopulation and city-building... However- In my area? That's not a huge issue. ~nods~ That's the main thing I'm trying to say. In California, I'm sure that the reduction of natural habitat for the wolves is a major concern... But here? Nope. Most people aren't crazy enough to want to live here... a lot of people like to vacation up here though... that's why they keep tearing down the trees to build big fancy hotels and T-shirt shops... but still... compared to all of the wild lands we have here it's just a scratch on the surface... so far at least... "progress" I'm sure will continue as the overpopulation of the US continues and more and more people move up here to "stretch out"...
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Post by skywalker on Feb 20, 2012 22:47:27 GMT -6
All predators can be dangerous, whether they are wolves, bears, lions, tigers, sharks, alligators or whatever. The world used to be an even much more dangerous place than it is now. Back when most of the land was wilderness it was the wild animals that ruled it. As humans began to tame the land one of the things they did was eliminate all of the dangerous predators. If a wolf attacked somebody people would go out and kill not just that wolf, but every other wolf they saw. Same thing with bears and lions or whatever. Over time the aggressive animals were wiped out and the few animals that survived are the ones that learned to avoid humans like the plague.
Since then people have started to take their safety for granted and because of that they put themselves in a lot of extremely dangerous situations. Tourists are mauled and killed every year in places like Yellowstone or Yosemite simply because they make the mistake of thinking that the animals they see are tame. This is partly the blame of the environmentalist and animal rights movements who have gone out of their way to make people think that animals are harmless and need to be protected no matter what. This, plus the Disneyization of the world has caused a lot of people to think that all deer are Bambis, and all bears and tigers are Winnie the Poo and Tigger.
The changing attitude toward animals has caused people to stop killing them...even when they are aggressive. Over time this allowed the aggressive genes to make a comeback and the rest of the animals to begin to lose their fear of man. Attacks are on the rise because of it. People need to understand that wild animals are still wild and the wilderness is their territory, not ours. They will attack if they have a reason too. It seems that totally dedicated man-eaters like the one in the story are rare, but they do happen. It is only a matter of time before it happens again.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 23:24:34 GMT -6
I agree sky.
Most Americans do not know the difference between a wild animal and a domesticated one. I have spoken to many many MANY people both online and in person (who grew up in other places... big cities usually...) who think wild animals are safe to approach...
People who are used to living in the "Concrete Jungle" as they call it know absolutely nothing about nature or wild animals. They don't know how to react to their presence, they don't know what to do... and more importantly what NOT to do... and that's how people get mauled... because they just don't KNOW how to deal with something that is not domesticated...
Wild animals are concerned about one thing and one thing only- survival. They don't worry about "taste". They don't worry about right and wrong. They are only concerned with eating and protecting their young. That's all they care about and that's what they spend all of their time doing. They are not puppy dogs or kitty cats... they would kill you without even giving it a second thought if they perceived you to be a threat or a meal.
Jo, Native Americans may have lived in harmony with nature... but they got attacked by wolves too. They got attacked by bears too... and eaten... and they knew about these dangerous predators and they hunted them as well, and killed them too if they got too close to their villages. They also did what they had to do to protect their people and their children.
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Post by skywalker on Feb 22, 2012 20:35:55 GMT -6
I've done a lot of reading about man-eating predators because I do a lot of hiking in the wilderness and I like to know what I am going to be potentially dealing with. One thing I have noticed is that most animals that turn towards killing and eating humans usually do so because they have some physical injury or deformity that prevents them from capturing their normal prey. Once they get a taste for human flesh it seems they don't want to go back, especially when they find out how easy people are to kill. I noticed in the story about "La Bete" that the animal was described as being either deformed or mutated. That would fit in with the typical description of a man-eater. I am inclined to think it was a real creature, probably some weird mutated wolf. I also think that some of the attacks were probably normal wolves that were misidentified as this Bete critter. I am wondering if there was anything going on at that time in history that would have caused wolves to be more aggressive than normal...maybe some type of climatic change like a drought or something.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2012 11:06:09 GMT -6
I've lived around and with animals all of my life..wild and domestic. In most instances they are more honest than humans in that they are breed typical. I was told..the difference between predator and prey is that the prey have their eyes set to the side for better side vision (better to see and flee) while predator eyes are set straight ahead for the hunt. Where are mans? We are the ultimate predator. Until a smarter and more ruthless one comes along. I've a great deal of respect for wild life and I'm not stupid enough to think they won't behave like animals if cornered..we do ;D
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Post by casper on Feb 23, 2012 19:47:53 GMT -6
There were a pair of lions that developed a taste for tender human..in fact I think they made a movie about it..ghosts in the darkness or something like that..Val Kilmer too I think..but the story was real. I liked that movie. Anything that has the word ghosts in it I like. ;D The movie didn't have any ghosts in it but I bet the lions made lots of them. Who was the other guy in it? Was it Micheal Douglass? I think that's his name. The scariest part of it was when the guy was dreaming that his wife was coming to visit him and he could see the lions tail moving through the grass towards her. I was afraid to go into the tall weeds after I saw that. I don't want a lion to jump out and eat me up.
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Post by skywalker on Feb 23, 2012 20:10:23 GMT -6
Speaking of lions, I had a dream about a lion about a week ago. I should have wrote it down in my dream thread but I forgot. I'll do it right now.
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