[M.T. Pockets]

I know there were more predetors in the ecosystem before man came, but there were also 50,000,000 buffalo and other sources of prey on unlimited real estate.

Today, the elk's habitat is a percentage of a fraction of what it used to be and they have predictable ranges that they're self contained in. With all the development and sub divisions, elk don't have the free run of a dozen states like they used to. So, this means the wolves can concentrate on these smaller areas and really raise havoc with a particular heard or population.

Take the area South of Yellowstone, before man came the elk had a natural free range to winter in. Now that same area is filled with billionaire vacation homes with mowed lawns and fences. So, the feed ground became necessary to maintain the herd through the winter. So now you've got several thousand elk in a a few areas smaller than some shopping malls. The wolves can surround the herd to prevent them from moving between the feed grounds and contain them, I'm afraid of a disease problem someday.

The Northern Yellowstone herd seems to be hit the hardest of all, the wolves must have an effecient system there.

I'm from Minnesota and am no stranger to wolves. I sure wish the Fed's would leave it to the states now on how they want to control wolves. I'm not anti-wolf but for the life of me I can't figure out why some people worship them like some type of holy animal. Go to Jackson, Wyoming or Ely, MN and you'll see what I mean. I don't want to eliminate them, but let's face it - with man in the ecosystem you have to control all the animals. You can't control some and let others go uncontrolled.