Wolves worth millions!!!

[Ithaca 37]

Wolves are having an economic benefit far greater than the welfare ranchers who are bitching about them!! Read the part about tens of millions of $ being generated!!

"May 16 issue - The sun is setting over Yellowstone National Park—showtime for the wolf groupies who have gathered on a hillside. Peering through high-powered scopes, they watch two wolves trot across a grassy plain. Excitement sweeps the crowd as No. 302, a jet-black male, crouches as an antelope approaches. He fails to nab his prey, but the spectators are thrilled nonetheless. "I'm addicted," says Jonathan Johnson, who drives eight hours from Washington state at least once a month to watch wolves. "Once you see them, you're hooked."

Millions of tourists visit Yellowstone every summer to see grizzlies, elk and bison, but only the wolves have developed a cult following. Like sports fans, groupies can recite the stats, ages and histories of favorite wolves. The faithful travel from all over the world and gather in chat rooms to relay the thrill of seeing a pack take down an elk. At least 34 tour companies cater to wolf tourists; experts estimate that this niche tourism generates tens of millions of dollars.Researchers chalk up this phenomenon to humans' love of dogs and the inherent drama of wolf packs. Alpha males and females struggle to maintain power and hold their clans together. Last year spectators mourned when a legendary alpha female was banished by her younger sister. "There's a soap-opera story line with wolves," says one biologist. And there are plenty of tourists eager to tune in.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7763477/site/newsweek/

 

[MarvB]

Last year spectators mourned when a legendary alpha female was banished by her younger sister

Bandit and Q-1 should have some sympathy here..... but I doubt that I would have lost much sleep over it.

Ithaca do you "really" believe this is generating 10's of millions of $$?
I wonder who these experts were? I would think it hard to separate from the millions of turons those that are there just for the wolves (and an off chance encounter) versus those who are there and spending $$ on and for everything else the park has to offer. I do agree that their (the wolves)following is definately "cult like" but then again, so is the way I feel about hunting according to the Mrs.

 

[FAIRCHASEBEN]

Ithaca do you "really" believe this is generating 10's of millions of $$?

Of course he does Marv , it's right there in black & white , Newsweek magazine , so it must be true !

 

[A-con]

Yes, but how many pelts would it take to make that much !

 

[BigHornRam]

Drive through Jellystone anytime of the year, even on a nice winter day and you'll see throngs of these wolf whackos in groups in the Lamar Valley/Slough Creek area. They ain't there watching bears in the winter. How much cash they spend thats anyones guess. If their as tight with their money as Ithaca, I don't think the local economy would be bursting at the seems because of them. But do think they have some impact.

The part that bothers me the most is how they follow the lives of each wolf as if they were individual celebrities. They name them, and document all there exploits. How do you guys think we will ever have a hunt for wolves when there is such a fair number of cult like followers that think of these animals on a human like level and will oppose such a hunt for all their worth? It's going to be tough.

 

[JoseCuervo]

BHR,
Does every animal in Yellowstone have to be hunted? Who cares if they name them, you ain't gonna hunt them anyway.

 

[BigHornRam]

Jose,

When "Snowflake and Ebony" step out of the Park for a little strool and I have a tag, one of thems going down. It will be a teary day in wolf hugger land. Limits is 5 in Alaska, do you think we'll get a limit like that in the near future?

 

[Ithaca 37]

"Ithaca do you "really" believe this is generating 10's of millions of $$?"

Let's see. We have 34 tour companies catering to wolf tourists. How much do you suppose each tour company collects each week from the wolf watchers? How much do you suppose each wolf watcher spends on their trip to YNP? That's what we'd have to know.

I can see where it would easily come to a few million bucks a year. Maybe the "tens of millions" is not far off.

FCB, how about if you give us your estimate?

 

[DaMadman]

I like the Wolves but sooner or later they are going to have to be kept in check by hunting them.

 

[BigHornRam]

DMM,

"I like the Wolves"

Good, then I have an excellent wolf recipe to share with you.

 

[DaMadman]

DMM,

"I like the Wolves"

Good, then I have an excellent wolf recipe to share with you.

Hmmm Idunno if I'd like to eat them. But I heard their fur is real warm

 

[MarvB]

I guess I get a little jaded when I hear estimates like "tens of millions" without seeing what derrives the numbers. Just because there are 34 tour co's that "cater" to the wolfies don't mean a thing IMHO....If I ran one bus a month exclusively for wolf watchers and only did it six months out of the year my coimpany would likely still be deemed one that "caters" to the wolf watchers though it might not generate squat for $$.

...just too many semantics and the media likes to throw around BIG numbers to catch people's eyes. Hard to back them up in most cases. Kind of like all those folks who never lose in Vegas....something's got to be building those casinos....

 

[FAIRCHASEBEN]

FCB, how about if you give us your estimate?

Less than.