This is a warning to outdoor users about a potentially deadly biological event that could result from one’s curiosity to poke at and kick through scat from wolves, coyotes and foxes. Of course not everyone knowingly does this but many hunters, trappers and simply the curious, want to know what these animals have been eating.

Back in the end of November I gave you a link to a story, “Of Wolves and Worms”. That story introduced many of us to the subject of worms being found in wolves in the Greater Yellowstone area.

According to a new study out in the October issue of the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, three-millimeter-long tapeworms known as Echinococcus granulosus, are documented for the first time in gray wolves in Idaho and Montana. And the authors didn’t just find a few tapeworms here and there… turns out that of 123 wolf intestines sampled, 62 percent of the Idaho gray wolves and 63 percent of the Montana gray wolves were positive. (Ew!) The researchers wrote: “The detection of thousands of tapeworms per wolf was a common finding.” (Again… Ew!!) This leads to the interpretation that the E. granulosus parasite rate is fairly widespread and established in the Northern Rocky Mountain wolves.

There is discussion about how some think the worms ended up in the wolves in this region but the article tends to downplay any serious concerns people should have from coming in contact with these tapeworms and the eggs they leave behind.

In the comments section of the article, Will Graves, author of the book “Wolves in Russia: Anxiety Through the Ages“, left his thoughts on his own research discoveries about the dangers to humans of these parasites.

In the first paragraph in my letter to Mr. Bangs dated 3 October 1993 on the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) which was titled “The Reintroduction of Gray Wolves to Yellowstone National Park and Central Idaho,” I warned about the damages and problems wolves would cause to Yellowstone and other areas by carrying and spreading parasites and diseases over larger areas. Some of these parasites are damaging not only to wild and domestic animals, but can also be dangerous to humans. One of these parasites is Echinococcous Granulosus and Echinococcus M. Since 1993 I have been working to tell people what I have learned from about 50 years of research on the characteristics, habits and behavior of Russian wolves. From that research I came to the conclusion that one of the most serious consequences of bring wolves into the US would be the wolves carrying and spreading around damaging/dangerous parasites and diseases. I did my best to explain this in my book titled, “Wolves in Russia – Anxiety Through the Ages” edited by Dr. Valerius Geist. Details about my book are in my web site: wolvesinrussia.com.

After several years effort, I finally recently obtained help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Parasitic Research Center in Beltsville, MD. This research center will try to conduct research on the blood taken from wolves in our western states. Oneparasite they will be researching is to determine if wolves carry and spread the parasite Neospora Caninum around. It is established that coyotes and dogs carry this damaging parasite.

I remember that about two years ago there was a report about one wolf carrying Echinococcus Granulosus in Montana.

Much more research is needed about the danger wolves bring to our environment. Some of the parasites carried by wolves are dangerous to humans.(emphasis added)

Around this same time that Will Graves posted his comments, he contacted me by email and asked if I could somehow be of assistance to him in obtaining blood samples from wolves taken during the Idaho and Montana wolf hunts. The word went out quickly and hopefullyGraves gets what he needs to help him in his research. This can become extremely valuable information for all of us.

In the meantime, Dr. Valerius Geist, professor emeritus University of Calgary and Dr. Charles Kay, of Utah State University, who holds degrees in wildlife ecology, environmental studies and wildlife biology, exchanged thoughts on the discovery of worms in Yellowstone wolves in emails I received.

Well, Charles? What else is new? What did we warn about, how we were censored as alarmists………………………
And yes, a colleague assured us that all that is not a problem for us, but for some native types. Nothing to worry about, really. Remember how, early on, we put out a warning – do not kick dry wolf feces or poke about in such looking for evidence of food habits. Do not handle wolf feces as it will disturb the tiny Echinococcus eggs that float up like little dust cloud to envelop you, and you are very likely to ingest some of that “dust”. This know-how, which we older Canadian types carried away from our parasitogy lessons was poo-hood by some American colleagues. Wolves are after all, harmless! Remember the question we posed: is it really such a great idea completing ecosystems when the progression is herbivores, carnivores, finally diseases and parasites?

It is not my intention nor that of Drs. Geist and Kay to attempt to instill unnecessary fear in people but to educate, as it was back in the day before wolf reintroduction. There are very important lessons and warnings that all should heed and take into consideration when in the woods or maybe even in your own back yard.

Dr. Geist emailed me the other day and asked me if I would be kind enough to post this information so that anyone and everyone will be aware of the potential for some very serious health issues.

Urgent: could you make a point of it that now, that we know that the majority of wolves are infected with Echinococcus, that all hunters control their curiosity and not poke about in wolf or coyote feces to find out what these predators ate. these feces are saturated with tiny, lightweight Echinococcus eggs that rise like dust plume from the disturbed feces and envelop the poking hunter. If the air-born eggs are ingested, the an infection is possible, and having Echinococcus cysts grow inside oneself is not a desirable condition. Trust me!

He followed that up with more information about the dangers.

As to the pathogenicity of Echinococcus granulosus: Yes, I noticed that Foayt, leaning on Raup’s research in Alaska, toned down the dangers from this northern form. My understanding based on what we learned from an old, experienced parasitologist at the University of British Columbia is that it’s nothing to fool around with. It’s serious! In my career as a biologist in touch with the north, I have heard nothing else. I have not, however, done a recent literature search. Foayte’s assessment may be on even though it conflicts with mine. Either way, getting an Echinococcus cyst of any kind is no laughing matter as it can grow not only on the liver or the lungs, but also in the brain. And then it’s fatal.

There is however, another much more alarming angle. Echinococcus multilocularis is a nightmare, and much more virulent than Echinococcus granulosus of any strain. We cannot encapsulate this cyst, and it grows and buds off like a cancer infecting different parts of the body incessantly. Were some of the wolves infected with multilocularis? Coyotes and foxes carry it and it has been spreading. Do canids in Idaho, Montana, etc. have it? It’s found in Alberta. Regardless, now is the time to send out an SOS to ALL outdoor users. Hold your curiosity in check, do not poke into the feces of wolves, coyotes and foxes. If you do you will release clouds of Echinococcus eggs which will envelop you, and you may ingest the eggs, bring the eggs home and endanger your family. This is nothing new to me and I have lived with this constraint on my curiosity for over 40 years. This is just a know how that maintains your personal and your family’s safety. Also, never feed uncooked offal to your dog as it may become infected with Echinococcus and infect you and your family. Echinococcus cysts love to be in lung and liver, and if consumed by dogs you have a health hazard on your hands. And such cysts now grow in deer and elk where you live. Somebody should take a second look searching out Echinococcus multilocularis.

You and I probably have no idea in the world whether these worms exist in the woods we hunt, trap, hike, etc. but good advice given by Dr. Geist should tell us it’s not something we should mess around with. Squelch the curiosity to dig in the poop and just assume there could be hidden danger.

I want to take a moment to thank Will Graves, Dr. Val Geist and Dr. Charles Kay for caring enough about the rest of us to be willing to share their findings and experiences.

Send Pictures to:

Todd Krater
U.S. Hunting Today
Managing Editor
todd@ushuntingtoday.com

Note: If you want a picture posted and do not have a digital copy I would be willing to scan it for you.  Please contact me for details.

US Hunting Today reserves the right to refuse any picture for any reason as well as edit it where appropriate.

Things I am looking for, but not limited to.

•    Gear: Clothes, utility tools, ATV’s…
•    Favorite weapons: guns, bows, sticks, stones…
•    Best Duck Blind or Hide…
•    You, family or friends dressed for the hunt…
•    Where you hunt

All I need is a digital picture in any PC compatible format and a description of the picture.  You can make the description as long or short as you would like.  If there is a story behind the picture we would love to hear about it.

Send Pictures to:

Todd Krater
U.S. Hunting Today
Managing Editor
todd@ushuntingtoday.com

Note: If you want a picture posted and do not have a digital copy I would be willing to scan it for you.  Please contact me for details.

US Hunting Today reserves the right to refuse any picture for any reason as well as edit it where appropriate.

Each call comes complete with an instructional dvd, a surface saver cover, two strikers and a surface conditioning kit. There are two surface choices, crystal and anodized aluminum. Either one will be devastating on gobblers in your neck of the woods this spring.

Scott Ellis

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Fairfax, Va. – At a rally in Lebanon, Virginia in front of a crowd of rural voters, Barack Obama made another one of his empty election-year promises not to take away shotguns, rifles or handguns if elected President. However, Obama’s words on the campaign trail do not match his long record of opposing lawful gun ownership.

“NRA will not allow Barack Obama to revise history. That is why we will be sending this fact sheet of Obama votes to wherever hunters and gun owners congregate and to 4 million NRA members to share with their friends and neighbors.” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “He has supported bans on handguns and semi-automatic firearms, and he has voted to ban possession of many shotguns and rifles commonly used by hunters and sportsmen across America. And we will remind voters every single time he lies.”

In 2003 while serving in the Illinois State Legislature, Obama voted in favor of a bill in the Judiciary Committee that would have made it illegal to “knowingly manufacture, deliver or possess” a so-called “semi-automatic assault weapons.” Under this bill, a firearm did not actually have to be semi-automatic to be banned. According to definitions in the bill, all single-shot and double-barreled shotguns 28-gauge or larger, and many semi-automatic shotguns of the same size, would be banned as “assault weapons.” This definition would have banned a large percentage of the shotguns used for hunting, target shooting and self-defense in the United States. The bill also would have banned hundreds of models of rifles and handguns.

Any Illinois resident who possessed one of these commonly used guns 90 days after the effective date would have had to “destroy the weapon or device, render it permanently inoperable, relinquish it to a law enforcement agency, or remove it from the state.” Anyone who still possessed a banned gun would have been subject to a felony sentence.

“Obama may argue the bill was poorly drafted,” said Cox. “But Barack Obama – who brags about being a constitutional law professor and the former president of the Harvard Law Review – voted for it. That’s pathetic.”

Illinois State Senate Judiciary Committee, March 13, 2003, Bill SB 1195, available at www.ilga.gov/legislation/93/SB/PDF/09300SB1195lv.pdf

-nra-

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

The TBWUSA helps fund projects through their membership fees, wild game suppers, raffles, and banquets. Many of these projects have been highly successful, including the recent Youth Dove Hunt event that drew in 76 kids, who bagged 577 doves in a matter of five hours.

Money received from these projects go towards conservation efforts to help protect Indiana’s waterfowl heritage. Over the past three years, the TBWUSA has built and erected more than 700 nest boxes for Indiana’s wood ducks. This program has been so successful that Indiana recently updated it’s wood duck bag limit from two birds, to three.

This banquet sounds like a fun event and will go to support your Indiana hunting heritage. Tickets are still available for $45 each, or $55 per couple. This fee does include a one-year membership in the Waterfowl USA and a one year magazine subscription.

For tickets call Tony Pruiett (477-1600),Terry Rager (985-0939) Dick Boardman (491-2719), Gary Ayer (937-2438), Jason Greer (305-2354), Bryan Turley (422-0531), Tony Stone (270-830-7141) or Paul Keller (309-397-2465).

If your in the Evansville area on September 20th, and are planning on attending this banquet, feel free to send a full report to Indiana Hunting Today. I would love to hear how this turns out.

Getting the right introduction to hunting and fishing ensures a quality experience and the start to a lifetime of enjoyment. Many of today’s hunters and anglers received their first introduction to the two sports from either family or friends as a tradition passed down from generation to generation. A young person’s memories of taking that first deer or landing the “big one” that didn’t get away last a lifetime.

To help create such memories, Indiana will celebrate this special day with a two-day event that provides young licensed hunters (age 15 years and younger) who are accompanied by an adult (18 years or older) the opportunity to take one antlerless deer in addition to all other tags for the remaining deer seasons.

Participants may use any legal equipment, including shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, bow and arrow, or crossbow to harvest deer. Hunter orange must be worn, and the youth hunter must possess a legal license while hunting (either youth consolidated hunting license or apprentice license).

A youth consolidated license requires the youth to have passed the hunter education course; however, the new apprentice hunting license allows a hunter of any age the opportunity to purchase a license without taking hunter education. Individuals with an apprentice hunter license must hunt with a licensed hunter who is older than 18 years of age, and must stay in contact with the adult hunter at all times.

Indiana hunters are limited to three apprentice licenses during their lifetime. This allows plenty of time for a young hunter to decide if they are going to continue hunting. If so, he or she must take a hunter education course.

Nationally, hunters and anglers (34 million), through license fees and excise taxes, generate $100,000 every 30 minutes for fish, wildlife and habitat programs.

For hunting and fishing events in Indiana for youth, go to www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/12485.htm. For more information about National Hunting and Fishing Day go to nhfday.org.

The events take place at the archery trail within Raccoon SRA, located just west of the property’s entrance gate. Introduction to Archery starts at 10 a.m. This event is focused on youth but is open to all ages. Participants will learn about the history of archery as well as become acquainted with some of the equipment used in the sport. Participation is limited to first 20 who arrive.

The competition, which will be held 12:30 to 1 p.m., is open only to Long Bow/Recurve archers and is limited to the first 15 registrants, who must register by calling (765) 344-1412, by Sept. 25. Participants must provide their own equipment. The course will follow the existing archery trail and will consist of 3D and standard targets.

Both programs are free but standard entrance fees of $5 for in-state vehicles and $7 for out-of-state vehicles will be charged. For more information about this event, please call the registration phone number.

Raccoon SRA is located on U.S. 36 in Parke County in west central Indiana, 50 miles west of Indianapolis and 35 miles northeast of Terre Haute.

For more information please visit http://usoutdoorstoday.com/conservation/

The auction will include 11,759 acres in Crittenden and Union counties near Sturgis, Ky., that include a nationally known hunting property, more than four miles of Ohio River frontage and coal reserves that have been mined by various companies.

The Sturgis auction will be at 9 a.m. CST Nov. 8 at Union County High School, 4464 U.S. Highway 60W, Morganfield, Ky. The holdings will be sold in 71 tracts. They include the hunting property featured on the Outdoor Channel program “Game Trails,” along with 2,640 acres of cropland and 940 acres of pasture and hay fields.

On Nov. 6, Kimball’s land auction will begin at the French Lick Hotel & Casino Conference Center in French Lick, Ind., with a 9:30 a.m. EST morning auction and a 1 p.m. afternoon session. This sale primarily will include forest land for timber, hunting and recreational use.

The morning session will have 6,256 acres in 64 tracts in Martin, Lawrence and Orange counties in Indiana. The afternoon sale will be of 3,166 acres in 55 tracts in the Indiana counties of Dubois, Crawford, Perry and Orange.

The auction’s final day will be Nov. 7 at the Farm Bureau Community Building in Brandenburg, Ky., at 9 a.m. CST. This sale will be of 6,031 acres in 55 tracts, comprised of 5,341 acres in the Kentucky counties of Meade, Breckinridge and Butler, and 690 acres in the Indiana counties of Perry, Crawford and Harrison.

Kimball, a furniture and electronics assembly company, is selling all of its undeveloped property and timberlands because it’s no longer a vertically integrated manufacturer.

The firm will use sale proceeds to fund its growth strategies.

An estimated 68 million board feet of high-value hardwoods are on the properties, including white oak, yellow poplar, black walnut, hard maple, red oak and ash.

Woltz & Schrader Auctions of Columbia City, Ind., will market the properties and conduct the auctions for Kimball. For detailed information, contact Woltz & Schrader at (800) 451-2709 or visit

.

The Web site includes tract photos, descriptions, directions, maps, request forms for auction brochures, and auction terms and conditions.

The reduction efforts will be held Nov. 17-18 and Dec. 1-2. Mail-in applications must be received by Aug. 15. The on-line application deadline is Aug. 29.

Applications are available in the 2008-09 Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide at retail stores and on-line as a special hunt registration at

. Applicants must see details in the 2008-09 Indiana Hunting Trapping Guide before applying.

State Park deer reduction properties – firearms
Brown County
Chain O’Lakes
Charlestown
Harmonie
Indiana Dunes
Lincoln
McCormick’s Creek
Ouabache
Pokagon
Shades
Spring Mill
Summit Lake
Tippecanoe River
Turkey Run
Whitewater Memorial

State Park deer reduction properties – archery only
Fort Harrison
Clifty Falls

Applicants must be Indiana residents and be 18 years of age by Nov. 17, 2008 and possess at least one valid Indiana deer license to apply. Each person may apply only once for each state park deer reduction effort, regardless of primary or buddy status. All applications sharing duplicate names will be disqualified. Designated areas are available for participants with special needs.