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Location: East Midlands, UK
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,775
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Originally Posted by
Promethean
How could this be described as a new model when the wolves of Ellesmere have been there for as long as we've known. We also observe the same in Baffin Island. Nobody "drove" the wolves into Ellesmere or Baffin for that matter. They have been part of that ecosystem for a long time. And they are full time residents.
What makes you think Ellesmere is "undesirable"? It is full of wildlife, there is plenty to hunt. Artic fox like it, so do Polar bears and so does the wolf.
I've re-read it to see if your interpretation can be justified, and I don't think it can.
Wolves have indeed been living for so long on Ellesmere that they have no or little fear of man, so my apologies for thinking that there appearance there has been in the last few hundred years.
This is what someone said about the place :
"Ellesmere Island is very dry. Wildlife tends to congregate in large thermal oases where sufficient water sustains the sparse vegetation that nourishes muskoxen, arctic hares and other animals. Although snow does accumulate during the long, dark arctic winter, it must not come too early in the autumn if healthy numbers of muskoxen and arctic hares are to survive. If the snow comes too early, it will cover the vegetation, and the muskoxen will not have enough to eat to build up the reserves they need to survive the bitter cold and depleted food supply in winter. This is life on the edge."
Doesn't sound like an ideal habitat for wolves to me. There is plenty to hunt during good years, but the overall picture seems grim, as the above quote shows ... "This is life on the edge". However, although their numbers are very small, the wolves remain there, I am convinced, by the very fact that they are left in peace by man. They show little fear of David Mech and colleagues. And why should they be fearful? They are safe on Ellesmere from the trophy hunter's gun.
What a very lucky man Dave Mech is, I would give my back teeth to spend some time on Ellesmere observing these magnificent creatures. By the way, I have been reading David Mech's fascinating Blogs written when living on the island - they are extremely interesting, and some lovely photos too !