Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Fwd: Industry Alert: Bed Bugs as Vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: National Pest Management Association <npma@pestworld.org>
Date: Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 8:01 AM
Subject: Industry Alert: Bed Bugs as Vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi
To: alan.huot@wildlifecontrolsupplies.com
From: National Pest Management Association <npma@pestworld.org>
Date: Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 8:01 AM
Subject: Industry Alert: Bed Bugs as Vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi
To: alan.huot@wildlifecontrolsupplies.com
|
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ahuot@wildlifecontrolsupplies.com
Wildlife Control Supplies
P.O. Box 538
East Granby, CT 06026
860-844-0101 860-413-9831 (FAX)
www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com
"Products for Professionals"
Follow My Blog: http://wildlifecontrolsupplies.blogspot.com/
Wildlife Control Supplies
P.O. Box 538
East Granby, CT 06026
860-844-0101 860-413-9831 (FAX)
www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com
"Products for Professionals"
Follow My Blog: http://wildlifecontrolsupplies.blogspot.com/
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Get Out and VOTE !!!!
When Voting, Ask yourself: Are you better off now than four years ago:Constitutionally, Financially, and Recreationaly? Are you proud of the Governor's administration and legislation passed? Is it time for dramatic change? Have you forgotten the 2011 'No New Taxes" 100% increase in fees (licenses, tags, permits) on on every activity/business - with DEEP increased only 1/3 due to your fighting efforts? How about the 2013 Gun Bill - were YOU or your friends affected? And, Don't forget the proposed CLOSURE of Fish hatcheries and elimination of Pheasant Stocking. The real question: Do YOU consider this administration Sportsmen/Business/Individual rights friendly?
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Fwd: An interesting slant on AMERICA'S HUNTERS
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Date: Oct 25, 2014 9:24 PM
Subject: An interesting slant on AMERICA'S HUNTERS
To: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Cc:
From: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Date: Oct 25, 2014 9:24 PM
Subject: An interesting slant on AMERICA'S HUNTERS
To: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Cc:
An interesting slant on AMERICA'S HUNTERS
Pretty Amazing!
A blogger added up the deer license sales in just a handful of states and arrived at a striking conclusion:
There were over 600,000 hunters this season in the state of Wisconsin ... Allow me to restate that number: 600,000!
Over the last several months, Wisconsin 's hunters became the eighth largest army in the world.
(That's more men under arms than in Iran . More than France and Germany combined. )
These men, deployed to the woods of a single American state, Wisconsin , to hunt with firearms, And NO ONE WAS KILLED.
That number pales in comparison to the 750,000 who hunted the woods of Pennsylvania and Michigan 's 700,000 hunters, ALL OF WHOM HAVE RETURNED HOME SAFELY.
Toss in a quarter million hunters in West Virginia and it literally establishes the fact that the Hunters of those four states alone would comprise the largest army in the world.
And then add in the total number of hunters in the other 46 states. It's millions more.
________ The point? ________
America will forever be safe from foreign invasion with that kind of home-grown firepower! Hunting... it's not just a way to fill the freezer.
It's a matter of national security.
That's why all enemies, foreign and domestic, want to see us disarmed.
Food for thought, when next we consider gun control. Overall it's true, so if we disregard some assumptions that hunters don't possess the same skills as soldiers, the question would still remain... What army of 2 million would want to face 30 million, 40 million, or 50 million armed citizens??? For the sake of our freedom, don't ever allow gun control or confiscation of guns.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Fwd: Wildlife officials say more than 7,000 coyote bounties claimed in Utah | fox13now.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Date: Oct 23, 2014 6:51 AM
Subject: Wildlife officials say more than 7,000 coyote bounties claimed in Utah | fox13now.com
To: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Cc:
From: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Date: Oct 23, 2014 6:51 AM
Subject: Wildlife officials say more than 7,000 coyote bounties claimed in Utah | fox13now.com
To: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Cc:
Thursday, October 16, 2014
NEW CATALOGS ARE IN !!!
NEW Catalogs are IN !!!! If you aren't already on our mailing list and would like to receive a catalog, please call 877-684-7262 to request one, or go online and click in the lower right corner of our homepage. This catalog is BIGGER & BETTER than the last with 128 full-color pages packed with all of your wildlife control and animal handling equipment needs.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Clint Locklear interviews Alan Huot for Trapping Radio
At the conclusion of the recent New York State Trappers Convention, Clint Locklear, owner of Trapping Radio, used the opportunity to interview Alan Huot, founder of Wildlife Control Supplies regarding the beginnings of the company, where WCS fits into the wildlife control industry, and our relentless pursuit of the "next" product for the wildlife control market. For your listening pleasure, sit back and enjoy !!
http://trappingradio2.com/
http://trappingradio2.com/
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
An Obituary printed in the London Times
An Obituary printed in the London Times....Absolutely Dead Brilliant!!
(not too British!!! EH!!!)Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.Common Sense was preceded in death,
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason.He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights
- I Want It Now
- Someone Else Is To Blame
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for Doing NothingNot many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
White Nosed Syndrome
Each spring for the past eight years has brought tragic news of the spread of White-nose Syndrome, and 2014 is no exception. Two more states – Wisconsin and Michigan – now face this devastating wildlife disease that has killed at least 5.7 millions bats in North America. With today’s announcement, WNS has now been confirmed among bats in 25 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces. The cold-loving fungus that causes the disease, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is present in three additional states, although disease symptoms have not been confirmed.
Biologists conducting winter surveys in Wisconsin last month found the characteristic fungus on 2% of hibernating bats in a Grant County mine in the southwestern corner of the state. The state Department of Natural Resources reports that laboratory and genetic tests confirmed the bats were suffering from WNS.
In Michigan, biologists confirmed the disease in three northern counties: Alpena, Dickinson, and Mackinac. Five little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) that showed obvious signs of the disease were tested by the National Wildlife Health Center and Michigan state labs and both confirmed the presence of the White-nose Syndrome.
The WNS fungus was first discovered in New York cave in 2006 and now spans much of the continent, with fatality rates of more than 90 percent at some infected sites. Although the disease continues to spread, Bat Conservation International is working with some of the best scientists around the world to identify and develop tools to slow the frightening spread of the fungus and prevent the disease. Funding is desperately needed for these critical projects. You can help by donating to Bat Conservation International’s White-nose Syndrome Response Program.
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Biologists conducting winter surveys in Wisconsin last month found the characteristic fungus on 2% of hibernating bats in a Grant County mine in the southwestern corner of the state. The state Department of Natural Resources reports that laboratory and genetic tests confirmed the bats were suffering from WNS.
In Michigan, biologists confirmed the disease in three northern counties: Alpena, Dickinson, and Mackinac. Five little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) that showed obvious signs of the disease were tested by the National Wildlife Health Center and Michigan state labs and both confirmed the presence of the White-nose Syndrome.
The WNS fungus was first discovered in New York cave in 2006 and now spans much of the continent, with fatality rates of more than 90 percent at some infected sites. Although the disease continues to spread, Bat Conservation International is working with some of the best scientists around the world to identify and develop tools to slow the frightening spread of the fungus and prevent the disease. Funding is desperately needed for these critical projects. You can help by donating to Bat Conservation International’s White-nose Syndrome Response Program.
Friday, April 04, 2014
Fwd: Utah hunters can get coyote contracts worth up to $10K
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Date: Apr 4, 2014 3:21 AM
Subject: Utah hunters can get coyote contracts worth up to $10K
To: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Cc:
From: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Date: Apr 4, 2014 3:21 AM
Subject: Utah hunters can get coyote contracts worth up to $10K
To: "Ed Medvetz" <emedvetz@verizon.net>
Cc:
Utah hunters can get coyote contracts worth up to $10K
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1288&sid=29309218#loH3YquSAuMBZBFR.03
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1288&sid=29309218#loH3YquSAuMBZBFR.03
Sunday, March 23, 2014
My Constitutional Right
If They Come for Your Guns, Do You Have a Responsibility to Fight?
This man has put down on paper what many people are thinking, but are too cautious to express openly (including me up to now). I hope it never comes to what he is advocating, but I can certainly see where the possibility exists. God help us all if it ever does happen.
PS Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the author:
Dean Garrison (born 1955) is a contemporary American author and crime fiction novelist. He was born in Michigan , grew up in the Indiana , Illinois , and Texas , and received his B.A. degree from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan . Garrison is a Crime Scene Technician in West Michigan . His research in the fields of crime scene investigation and Shooting Reconstruction are widely published in forensic journals under the name of "D.H. Garrison, Jr."
Subject: If They Come for Your Guns, Do You Have a Responsibility to Fight? Posted on January 3, 2013 by Dean Garrison
I feel a tremendous responsibility to write this article though I am a little apprehensive. Thinking about the possibility of rising up against our own government is a frightening thing for many of us. I am not Johnny Rambo and I will be the first to admit that I do not want to die. The reason I feel compelled to write this, however, is simply because I don't think the average American is equipped with the facts. I feel that a lot of American citizens feel like they have no choice but to surrender their guns if the government comes for them. I blame traditional media sources for this mass brainwash and I carry the responsibility of all small independent bloggers to tell the truth. So my focus today is to lay out your constitutional rights as an American, and let you decide what to do with those rights.
About a month ago I let the "democracy" word slip in a discussion with a fellow blogger. I know better. Americans have been conditioned to use this term. It's not an accurate term and it never has been a correct term to describe our form of government. The truth is thatthe United States of America is a constitutional republic. This is similar to a democracy because our representatives are selected by democratic elections, but ultimately our representatives are required to work within the framework of our constitution. In other words, even if 90% of Americans want something that goes against our founding principles, they have no right to call for a violation of constitutional rights.
If you are religious you might choose to think of it this way… Say that members of your congregation decide that mass fornication is a good thing. Do they have the right to change the teachings of your God? The truth is the truth. It doesn't matter how many people try to stray from it. Did I just compare our founders to God? In a way I did, but please note that I am not trying to insult anyone. For the purpose of the American Government our constitution and founders who wrote it are much like God is to believers. It is the law. It is indisputable.
Our founders did not want a "democracy" for they feared a true democracy was just as dangerous as a monarchy. The founders were highly educated people who were experienced in defending themselves against tyranny. They understood that the constitution could protect the people by limiting the power of anyone to work outside of it much better than a pure system of popularity. A system of checks and balances was set up to help limit corruption of government and also the potential for an "immoral majority" developing within the American People. We have forgotten in this country that we are ultimately ruled by a constitution.
Why is a democracy potentially just as dangerous as a monarchy? Let's look at something that Benjamin Franklin said because it answers that question more fully and succinctly than I can.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. -Benjamin Franklin. Even 230+ years ago our founders were perceptive enough to realize that democracy was a dangerous form of government. How so? Because the citizens of a country can become just as corrupt as any government. We have seen evidence of this throughout history. Ask Native Americans and African-Americans if this population can become corrupt.
I think in 2012 we are seeing evidence of what Franklin was trying to tell us. Just because a majority of people may support certain ideas it does not mean that those ideas are just. In simple terms, just because most Americans love our president and voted for him, it does not mean that he has the power to go against our constitutional rights.
Next I'd like to review the text of the second amendment. It is very clear. This is the law of this land. So when Senator Feinstein or President Obama, talk about taking your guns, you need to think about something. Are they honoring their sworn oath to uphold the constitution? A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State , the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
This is a pretty clear statement. The fact is that it took 232 years for the Supreme Court to even rule on this amendment because it has never been successfully challenged. In 2008 a case of Columbia v. Heller the Supreme Court ruled that a handgun ban in Washington D.C. was unconstitutional. One also has to take this into consideration. The Supreme Court supports your right to own guns. If you want to research this decision further you can start here.
For those who try to debate the spirit of the 2nd amendment, they are truly no different from people who will try to take Biblical quotes out of context to try to support their immoral decisions. The founders were very clear on the intent of the 2nd amendment. Let me share a few quick quotes here: The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. -Thomas Jefferson
Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence …From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . . . the very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference –they deserve a place of honor with all that is good. -George Washington.
The Constitution shall never be construed….to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. -Samuel Adams. I could find hundreds of quotes like these. This country was built on the right to bear arms. It was built on the rights of an individual to bear arms, regardless of what his government or neighbor happened to think. This is crystal clear. Ironically the people who voice their opinions against this right have their free speech protected by your guns. Without guns in this country, all other amendments become null and void, simply because "We the People" will lose our power of enforcement.
We need to keep this in mind as our "representatives" try to push gun bans. I don't care if 99% of people are in support of gun bans (which is far from the case), it is a violation of our constitutional rights, plain and simple.
A constitutional republic protects the rights of the individual even when their ideas are very much in the minority. If I were the only person in America who believed in the 2nd amendment, I would still be within my rights to call upon it. You would all think I was insane and possibly celebrate if I was gunned down, but in the end I would be the only true American among us.
Our framers were very clear on this. If my government comes to take my guns, they are violating one of my constitutional rights that is covered by the 2nd amendment. It is not my right, at that point, but my responsibility to respond in the name of liberty. What I am telling you is something that many are trying to soft sell, and many others have tried to avoid putting into print, but I am going to say it. The time for speaking in code is over.If they come for our guns then it is our constitutional right to put them six feet under.You have the right to kill any representative of this government who tries to tread on your liberty. I am thinking about self-defense and not talking about inciting a revolution. Re-read Jefferson 's quote. He talks about a "last resort."I am not trying to start a Revolt, I am talking about self-defense. If the day for Revolution comes, when no peaceful options exist, we may have to talk about that as well. None of us wants to think about that, but please understand that a majority can not take away your rights as an American citizen. Only you can choose to give up your rights.
Congress could pass gun ban legislation by a 90%+ margin and it just would not matter. I think some people are very unclear on this. This is the reason we have a Supreme Court, and though I do not doubt that the Supreme Court can also become corrupt, in 2008 they got it right. They supported the constitution. It does not matter what the majority supports because America is not a democracy. A constitutional republic protects the rights of every single citizen, no matter what their "elected servants" say. A majority in America only matters when the constitution is not in play.
I just wrote what every believer in the constitution wants to say, and what every constitutional blogger needs to write. The truth of the matter is that this type of speech is viewed as dangerous and radical or subversive, and it could gain me a world of trouble that I do not want. It is also the truth. To make myself clear I will tell you again. If they come for your guns it is your right to use those guns against them and to kill them. You are protected by our constitution.
Most of the articles I am reading on the subject are trying to give you clues without just coming out and saying it. I understand that because certain things in this country will get you on a list that you don't want to be on. I may well be on that list. This blog is small and growing so I may not be there yet, but I have dreams. I also have my own list of subversives and anyone who attempts to deny my constitutional rights is on that list.
I am not the "subversive" here, it is the political representatives who are threatening to take away my inalienable rights. If they come to take my guns and I leave a few of them wounded or dead, and I somehow survive, I have zero doubt that I will spend a long time in prison and may face an execution. But I would much rather be a political prisoner than a slave.
If I go down fighting then I was not fighting to harm these human beings. I was simply defending my liberty and yours. It is self-defense and it is what our country was built on. We won our freedom in self-defense. We would not be ruled by a tyrannical government in the 1770′s and we will not be ruled in 2012 by a tyrannical government. There is no difference.
This is a case of right and wrong. As of now the 2nd amendment stands. It has never been repealed. If Feinstein or Barack have a problem with the constitution then they should be removed from office. They are not defending the constitution which they have sworn an oath to protect. It is treasonous to say the least. They would likely say the same about me, but I have the constitution, the founders, and the supreme court on my side. They only have their inflated egos.
I am not writing this to incite people. I am writing this in hopes that somehow I can make a tiny difference. I have no idea how many of my neighbors have the will to defend their constitutional rights. 2%? 20%? I am afraid that 20% is a high number, unfortunately.When push comes to shove many people may give up and submit to being ruled. I believe that our government is banking on this.
I would hope that our officials come to realize that, regardless of our numbers, we still exist because they are calling Patriotic Americans to action. They are making us decide if we want to die free or submit to their rule. I can not tell you where you should stand on that. I do know that it may make the difference between living a life of freedom or slavery.
You must start thinking about this because I believe that the day is coming soon and I personally believe it has already been planned. Not all conspiracy theories are hogwash. They may throw down the gauntlet soon and my suggestion is that you prepare yourself to react.
I mean no disrespect to our elected officials but they need to understand that "We the People" will not be disarmed. If they proceed then it is they that are provoking us and we will act accordingly. We are within our rights to do so.
For those who are in support of taking the guns, you need to ask yourself a very important question, and I am not just talking about the politicians, because if you support them, you have chosen your side.
Are you willing to die to take my guns?
---------------------------------
Through regulations, taxation, inflation of the money supply, trade restrictions, and tethers on private associations, government itself is nothing but a massive drain on prosperity. The situation has become deeply dangerous for the future of freedom in America, with young people unable to find jobs, opportunities being destroyed in sector after sector, banks and corporations living on the dole, and so many regulations that we are living under something nearly as egregious as Soviet-style central planning.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him --- better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Fwd: Tragedy in Sun Valley. The real cost of wolves in Idaho. Please support Idaho House Bill 470
The real cost of wolves in Idaho
A recent tragedy in Sun Valley brings to light how serious the wolf debate has become!
Steve Alder, Idaho For Wildlife
Please Support House Bill 470
The real cost of wolves!
The JR Luna Azul Story, a Sun Valley Tragedy!
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JR Luna Azul, killed by a single wolf 2-13-14 |
Idaho documented wolf packs in 2013. Officials believe this may represent only about 50% of Idaho wolves! |
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Following is a tragic report of a recent colt that was killed (2-13-2014) by a single wolf near Sun Valley. As you know many Idaho ranchers are suffering similar experiences but their stories don’t get told. The owners of this colt took every precaution imaginable to mitigate this wolf attack. Ironically, in January of 2010, this couple testified in Boise at the IDFG public testimony hearing. In this 2010 recording, Mr. Swigert delivers one of the most heartfelt, moving testimonies of the challenges they were facing in Sun Valley due to wolves. Mr. Swigert also describes in this 4 year old recording the many types of infrastructure deterrents they were implementing to keep wolves away from their valuable livestock and dogs. They even own a pet coyote that they use to alarm them when wolves are near. The following is their written history with supporting photos of the extreme measures they took to protect their valuable livestock and pets from wolves. Even with all of these wolf deterrent systems in place, a single wolf was able penetrate there protective barriers and change their lives forever. A colt that’s loss cannot be measured in a dollar value to the owners. To the rest of us that didn’t raise and fall in love with this little colt we know something is wrong when we realize the colt was worth almost half of the total dollars allocated for wolf control in Idaho for 2013! This is why HB 470 must be passed! Idaho is losing millions every year to livestock and elk predation from wolves and this does not include the pain and suffering by 5th generation Idahoans like the Swigerts.
The Tragedy of loosing JR Luna Azul On Thursday February 13, 2014, JR Luna Azul was killed by a single wolf. In the grand scheme of things the death of a seven month old colt probably does not amount to much but in our lives it was the inglorious culmination of 12 years of fighting to protect our dogs, horses, sheep, goats and ourselves from the insidious assault by an ever-present predator.
We are Kevin and Jennifer Swigert and we live at the end of Croy Creek canyon just seven miles from Hailey, Idaho. Kevin is a fifth generation Idaho native from Blaine and Custer Counties. We have raised horses for nearly thirty years around central Idaho from Stanley to Mackay and finally back to the Wood River Valley where we have been for the past 13 years. We also raise, train and vendor Bloodhounds to law enforcement, the military and search & rescue through our company Longstride Bloodhounds. We focus all our efforts and resources on our animals and have developed what many consider to be state of the art defenses against the depredation of wolves. We use stallions to protect the mares and foals, we use Akbash guard dogs and even have a ten year old pet coyote that is indispensible as an early warning that wolves are near and require vigilance.
Over the years we have had hundreds of encounters with wolves ranging from dog attacks to being charged by aggressive dominant alpha males while out training the tracking dogs. We have lost two mares to wolf activity when they panicked and injured themselves on fencing and icy winter ground. Always we considered ourselves to be well prepared and that the results of all these encounters where as good as could be expected. That has been the case until the last few weeks.
JR Luna Azul was the last stud colt from a stallion that can only be described as a once in a lifetime friend. April Fools Luna Azul was a ground breaking horse. Not only was he a superlative sire of many outstanding horses he was also the first horse to ever carry the POW/MIA Flag in a parade. After Bowe Bergdahl was captured in Afghanistan, permission was obtained through the Pentagon for the Wagon Days Parade to be the venue for the first ever display of this flag from horseback. The Army even sent a special drummer to accompany Azul through the parade route. Azul died in July of 2013 from a rattle snake bite to the chest. JR Luna Azul was born a few days later and from the first few days it was obvious he was exactly like his sire. Our intention was to raise JR as Azul’s replacement. We now have no replacement for this magnificent horse.
January of this year started out bad in our area. On January 13 we received a call from a close friend that a hunting dog had been killed by wolves just a couple of miles from our home and his advice was to be very careful. Our usual training ground is the canyon behind our ranch as the road is a dead end and receives little traffic making for a great area to work the dogs and keep them in top shape. We refrained from using the area for a week till the danger had passed, as wolves will generally move on without a good prey base. When we again started using the canyon it was obvious there was still a presence of wolves. The four juvenile females reported to us were still around but gave the dogs a pretty wide birth. Each day that the dogs were worked got more intense and on the sixth day they ambushed the dogs.
Jennifer was alone training the dogs. There was the usual group of twelve seasoned male bloodhounds along with three cadaver labs, two Irish Wolfhounds we use as sight hounds and three Border Collies. The four wolves ambushed the dogs only a few feet from Jennifer and she fired her AR-15 several times to scare them off. They managed to bite a Border Collie on the back and they ran off a three year old well trained Bloodhound male. The Border Collie was taken to the vet for emergency treatment along with a Rabies update and eventually recovered from the bites to her back. The Bloodhound was gone all night and returned at first light unscathed. We considered ourselves fortunate that nothing worse had happened but we did contact Idaho F&G and had a conservation officer look over the scene. He was surprised at the proximity to Jennifer (under 100 feet) where the wolves attacked the dogs. The behavior of these wolves was decidedly different from our experience. Hazing has always been effective in scaring them off. These wolves seemed to be attracted to the gunfire and accelerated their position over the course of a week till they ambushed Jennifer and her dogs. We have resolved to avoid the canyon till the situation is safer.
A few days after the attack on Jennifer we heard there had been a couple of wolves harvested by hunters and we began to breath a bit easier. We had requested a “shoot-on-sight” permit from the F&G to protect our animals but this was denied. Normally we have regular permits but the fact that in the Wood River Valley the permit holder information gets found out and in the interest of avoiding confrontation with pro-wolf individuals and groups we opted to rely on the 10J rules to protect our property. When off our property we would rely on hazing the wolves till we could make a retreat. We always carry weapons when out training the dogs as we have vast experience with posturing wolves.
Things seemed to be getting back to some sense of normal as we had heard the wolves were mating in Deer Creek and would probably not be venturing into Croy Creek for at least a few weeks. Then on the morning of February 13th we discovered JR Luna Azul. The field we keep the young horses in is about a mile from our home and to give them as much protection as possible we have a stallion and four very savy mares in with the young horses. We also have two Akbash guard dogs penned next to the barn where the horses can take refuge amongst a solid barrier of fences and barn walls with constantly burning lights. The deep snow we received the week before was limiting the movement of all the animals and in spite of the efforts by the stallion to protect JR a single wolf got the colt isolated against an outer fence just 100 feet from the barn and disemboweled him. Leaving a few choice mouthfuls of fur behind from the stallion the wolf left JR to bleed out with his intestines strung out across the ground.
In all the years of dealing with wolves and working hard to limit their ability to get close to the horses and dogs, we have never seen a single wolf be so bold as to attempt an attack like this. The track was not overly large, perhaps just a two year old, and from our experience this behavior is a major and very unwelcome change.
Croy Creek Canyon has been an active wolf environment for many years and the disappearance of the wintering elk and deer attest to the impact. During the winter of 2001 we lost a stallion when he had an unfortunate encounter with a wintering bull elk. We had three very large bulls spend the winter in our pasture and the hills surrounding our place were populated by perhaps two hundred elk. This winter, 2014, we have no elk or deer and have not seen any for a few years. We occasionally have one pass through but that has become far less frequent. The wolf population has increased every year and as the prey base disappears the only source of sustenance for wolves are coyotes, magpies, livestock and pets. We as responsible livestock owners have always felt it was better to create our own defenses than to rely on the efforts of other less reliable resources. The vigilance required to keep our animals safe is non-stop and all consuming. The ability to stay ahead of the hazard seems to be coming to an end. There is far less of a prey base for the wolves and they are getting more aggressive and more plentiful. It appears that we may not be horse breeders any longer.
Kevin & Jennifer Swigert Hailey, Idaho
JR Luna Azul
JR Luna Azul
Happy, the 10 year old coyote, (Left). Happy’s role is to warn them of approaching wolves. The
Jen training her blood hounds in wolf country carrying an AR-15 for protection
Akbash Guard Dogs to Protect the horses. Swigerts use 8 of them for protection!
Corral where colt was killed
Little Bit, the Stallion that tried to protect the colt. He got a few mouthfuls of black hair as he attacked the wolf that killed the colt. Little Bit’s mother was Peppy Sana Hickory purchased from actor Bruce Willis. Bruce sold her to the Swigerts after she bit him on the back and tore his shirt. He made them a great deal!
Jenny at the Sun Valley 4th of July Parade with JR Luna Azul's sire
Jenny moving John Faulkner’s sheep with Luna Azul
JR. Luna Azultimeline killed by a single wolf, 2-13-14 (Before Necropsy)
JR. Luna after the necropsy performed by USDA Wildlife Services
From: Hansen,Jerome
Hi Steve,
I am attaching the email from Wildlife Service’s confirming that the horse was killed by a wolf (wolves). I am also cc’ing Todd Grimm with Wildlife Services. I have no reason to believe it was not a wolf or wolves as there has been a group of 3 or 4 in the area.
Yesterday, WS confirmed that wolves killed a young horse on private land about 1 mile East of Red Elephant Gulch on the South side of the road. Our aircrew has seen wolves in this general vicinity for several weeks.
Todd Grimm State Director Idaho Wildlife Services
What is the real cost of wolves in Idaho?
In 2008, a study revealed that Idaho was losing up to $24 million annually in hunting revenue due to wolves killing deer and elk. This $24 million did not include livestock and pet losses, let alone the threat of diseases spread by wolves. The study also estimates that a single elk harvested by hunters provides a value of $8,000 and elk killed by wolves are valued at $750.00. Since 2008, elk numbers have continued to drastically decline in areas of high wolf density.
Following are elk harvest graphs and maps of the hunting zones near Sun Valley. Click here to see other elk harvest graphs throughout Idaho to fully understand the damage caused by wolves.
Sun Valley Area Elk Harvest Data Graphs from 1989-2012
Pioneer Zone
Sawtooth Zone
Smokey Mountains zone
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