Wisconsin wolves kill bear hound
PARK FALLS Wis. On July 1, wolves killed one Trig Walker hound and injured a second in southwest Lincoln Co. Bear hunters were training the dogs for bear hunting. These were the first reported depredations since the start of the bear hound training season. The season started on July 1 and runs through August 31.
The depredations have caused the Department of Natural Resources to expand an existing warning area between Merrill and Rib Lake. Dog warning areas are listed on the Department of Natural Resources Web site at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us.org/land/er/mammals/wolf/dogdepred.htm.
The depredations on July 1 were apparently by the South Averill Creek Pack, which consisted of 12 wolves last winter. The attack occurred in an area the pack was using as a rendezvous site, a summer home site where wolf packs raise their pups. Packs use rendezvous sites from mid June to late September, after the pups are big enough to leave their den. Adult wolves are very defensive of pups at rendezvous sites, and will attack other predators, including dogs, that get too close to the rendezvous site or the pups.
A pack will use from two to three to as many as six or more rendezvous sites during the summer. The exact locations vary from year to year and throughout the summer. The sites are usually forest openings or edge areas, with lots of wolf tracks, droppings, and matted vegetation.
Bear hunters are urged to exercise caution if they plan to train hounds or hunt bear with hounds in this area. The most recent depredation occurred in the southwest portions of Lincoln County, close to Marathon and Taylor counties. Some hunters have had success with bells on dog collars, but some dogs with bells have been attacked by wolves.
If hunters believe their dogs have been killed or injured by wolves they should contact USDA-Wildlife Services as soon as possible at 1-800-228-1368 in northern Wisconsin and 1-800-433-0688 in central and southern Wisconsin. Wolves are listed as protected wild animals by the State of Wisconsin, and as endangered species by the federal government. The Wisconsin DNR does reimburse for loss of dogs due to wolf depredation.
Dunn County News
The depredations have caused the Department of Natural Resources to expand an existing warning area between Merrill and Rib Lake. Dog warning areas are listed on the Department of Natural Resources Web site at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us.org/land/er/mammals/wolf/dogdepred.htm.
The depredations on July 1 were apparently by the South Averill Creek Pack, which consisted of 12 wolves last winter. The attack occurred in an area the pack was using as a rendezvous site, a summer home site where wolf packs raise their pups. Packs use rendezvous sites from mid June to late September, after the pups are big enough to leave their den. Adult wolves are very defensive of pups at rendezvous sites, and will attack other predators, including dogs, that get too close to the rendezvous site or the pups.
A pack will use from two to three to as many as six or more rendezvous sites during the summer. The exact locations vary from year to year and throughout the summer. The sites are usually forest openings or edge areas, with lots of wolf tracks, droppings, and matted vegetation.
Bear hunters are urged to exercise caution if they plan to train hounds or hunt bear with hounds in this area. The most recent depredation occurred in the southwest portions of Lincoln County, close to Marathon and Taylor counties. Some hunters have had success with bells on dog collars, but some dogs with bells have been attacked by wolves.
If hunters believe their dogs have been killed or injured by wolves they should contact USDA-Wildlife Services as soon as possible at 1-800-228-1368 in northern Wisconsin and 1-800-433-0688 in central and southern Wisconsin. Wolves are listed as protected wild animals by the State of Wisconsin, and as endangered species by the federal government. The Wisconsin DNR does reimburse for loss of dogs due to wolf depredation.
posted by wolf saga at 4:37 PM
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