During my recent read thru articles and papers about hybrids and such I came across an amusing description for canine hybrids...
canid soup.
canid soup.
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Happy Birthday, Robert Wadlow (1918-40)! 8️⃣–1️⃣1️⃣
Wolves
- Thread starter Glenn MacGrady
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My wife and I climbed one of the peaks surrounding Anchorage. When we got to the top, we looked down, and saw sheep and wolves in the same meadow. The wolves were laying down and the sheep were feeding, except for one that was laying down and appeared to be keeping an eye on them. We estimated that the wolves were a lot less than a hundred yard from the closest sheep.
Another incident happened at the Ak Zoo with my Grandkids. They started howling at the wolves who were laying down at the time. One by one each wolf slowly got up and joined in on the howling. It seemed that they could not resist it.
Another incident happened at the Ak Zoo with my Grandkids. They started howling at the wolves who were laying down at the time. One by one each wolf slowly got up and joined in on the howling. It seemed that they could not resist it.
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The only experience I've had with wolves was with a customer who had one as a pet (illegally, as even hybrids are forbidden here). I can easily see that the native people held them in a kind of special reverence as, having spent a lifetime around animals, that "dog" was the most intense animal I have ever encountered. It didn't bark; never made a sound except for the occasional (and very rare) howl but it watched you intently... every move that you made. It was friendly, yet it held eye contact until you were consciously trying not to look away first.
My impression: it was far more intelligent than any normal dog and mildly unnerving in it's demeanor. It was almost as if it believed it was far superior to all other creatures and, therefore, had nothing to prove.
I had another customer who kept a pet black bear (also illegally) and, of the two, I would take on a couple of bears at once before I challenged even a lone wolf. For me, the only thing scarier is a big cat and, while I don't see them as being as intelligent as a wolf, cats in general are so athletic that, pound for pound, they are the most lethal predator on the planet IMO.
PS:
Around here wild wolves are non-existent but even coyotes freak me out sometimes. When you're solo and miles from civilization, it doesn't take much to fuel the imagination. Then again, that's part of why we do it, right?
My impression: it was far more intelligent than any normal dog and mildly unnerving in it's demeanor. It was almost as if it believed it was far superior to all other creatures and, therefore, had nothing to prove.
I had another customer who kept a pet black bear (also illegally) and, of the two, I would take on a couple of bears at once before I challenged even a lone wolf. For me, the only thing scarier is a big cat and, while I don't see them as being as intelligent as a wolf, cats in general are so athletic that, pound for pound, they are the most lethal predator on the planet IMO.
PS:
Around here wild wolves are non-existent but even coyotes freak me out sometimes. When you're solo and miles from civilization, it doesn't take much to fuel the imagination. Then again, that's part of why we do it, right?
Alaska's Wolf Man is a great book.
I worked for a lady in a remote area of Nevada that had a 7/8 wolf for a pet. Jezebel used to run past the electronic fence on her 10 acre property and roam the neighborhood. I was out with a chain saw and seeding her property after a fire. The wolf would show up at different times watching me. I never made eye contact with her and she never bothered me. When the job was finished the lady invited me and my girl to dinner at their Hacienda built by a family of people from Mexico. We could see the lights of Reno 30 miles away. After dinner we went up on the flat roof of the adobe and howled at the full moon with Jezebel.
I worked for a lady in a remote area of Nevada that had a 7/8 wolf for a pet. Jezebel used to run past the electronic fence on her 10 acre property and roam the neighborhood. I was out with a chain saw and seeding her property after a fire. The wolf would show up at different times watching me. I never made eye contact with her and she never bothered me. When the job was finished the lady invited me and my girl to dinner at their Hacienda built by a family of people from Mexico. We could see the lights of Reno 30 miles away. After dinner we went up on the flat roof of the adobe and howled at the full moon with Jezebel.
I was going to say that almost every time I’ve been in the Porkies, a wolf would howl and quiet the coyotes down. Never seen one there, only seen tracks and heard them. Same with paddling Pukaskwa or LSPP
Marten had a story about being stalked by wolves at his place in Mn. I hope he chimes in with his story.
Bob.
Bob.
Last fall I had a wolf visit my camp at night. Was unaware until I saw the fresh tracks on the shoreline the next morning.
Hearing some wolves howling while camping is a bucket list item for me. As long as the howls are distant and not danger close.
Hearing some wolves howling while camping is a bucket list item for me. As long as the howls are distant and not danger close.
I have seen quite a few from the road/car. I saw my first wolf while driving into Sawbill (BWCA). It was huge, and trotted across the road about 100 yards in front of me. I lived in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and saw a few there and in nearby Ontario. Most memorably, one came out of the woods and onto a not-particularly-busy-at-the-time road. I pulled over to watch, and the wolf came over to my car. It was right outside the driver's side door. I was in a Corolla, and I think the wolf was tall enough to look into the car, but maybe that's just my mind at work. I do remember locking the door--as if that would help somehow. I now live near Yellowstone and have seen as many as 35 at one time, but those were all seen from the road. Last year, I watched a beautiful black wolf from about 20 yards. He'd look at me, and then trot away a little, then look back at me, then trot away a bit further. Ultimately, he disappeared into the woods about 200 yards away. When I hike, I regularly see tracks. I hear them, often at night. I supposed I should be afraid of them, but they don't bother me much. When I'm out in the wild, I've never seen them very close, and I believe they know where I am. I always carry bear spray... as if that's going to help with a pack of 10 wolves, or a grizzly and cubs, or a mountain lion, or... .
Yes. Several times
Once in Quetico but he saw us too and vanished very quickly.
The others we saw on land in Alaska
There are unconfirmed sightings in Maine
Once in Quetico but he saw us too and vanished very quickly.
The others we saw on land in Alaska
There are unconfirmed sightings in Maine
My first close encounter with a wolf occurred September of 2004. It had rained so much that the trails to my cabin were being flooded with water. I began the task of digging channels so the water could drain out of the low spots. Much time was spent sitting around the cabin and sipping hot tea and then I would go out and do some draining. I would shovel some dirt out of the way and move on to the next spot. Soon I would have to get rid of the tea passing through my kidneys.
I soon noticed that animals had started scratching and marking a lot along the trails I was working on. On the third day of my draining I was on my way to an area miles away to do some work. As I approached the first spot of drainage work I heard something running in the brush to my right. A wolf then crossed the trail fifty feet in front of me. I was elated because this was the first wolf I had seen deep in the forest in over 20 years of hiking around Beltrami Island State Forest in Minnesota. The wolves are always close by but they are so crafty that you never get to see them.
I was carrying some empty tin cans out to the jeep with my backpack so I dropped them off and hiked another three miles before returning. On my way back I could see that the wolf had followed me and scratched his mark into the trail two miles from the first encounter. It finally dawned on me that I had stared a turf war with this wolf. With all the digging I had done to drain water and all the tea that I had left at these spots he finally had enough and confronted me. It explained why I was able to walk up on a crafty old wolf while carrying a pack full of empty tin cans.
Early November found me back at my cabin for the deer season. I spent a lot of the first week sitting in my tree stands. On the eighth day I decided to do some still hunting and headed out at first light. It was a cold crisp morning with clear skies and little wind. You could not walk without making a lot of noise so I would mimic the pattern of a deer moving through the woods. I would walk and stop and move a few steps and stop again. By eight thirty I had gone west about two miles. As I neared the edge of a brushy area I spotted ears moving in some brush 75 feet in front of me. I had deer on the mind and thought I had jumped a doe and fawns. I was trying to make out what was going on when I spotted big wolf staring back at me through an opening in the brush. He kept staring and I soon realized that the morning sun was right behind my head and he could not make me out. A long and lean wolf then left the group and trotted in the brush and went by me about 30 feet to my right. When it had gotten behind me the largest wolf started working around on my left side. It was trotting and I was amazed at the heavy sounds of its footfalls and the noise it was making in the brush. It had traveled around me about 30 degrees from where it had first stood with the sun in its eyes. It stopped in an opening in the brush and looked over at me for a full minute. We were both in the open and I was thrilled at seeing such a beautiful animal so close. The morning sun highlighted his stunning winter pelt. I was sure that the wolf pack thought that I was a deer but could not make me out with the sun in their eyes. It was obvious they were setting up for an attack. When the big wolf stared at me I felt the game was up and I was waiting to see how he was going to alert the others. Instead he continued his trot up my left flank. I was thoroughly enjoying the moment and not thinking of the consequences. There were at least two wolves still standing at the original spot seventy-five feet away. After a little while they started coming forward at a fast crawl with their bellies close to the ground. At fifty feet they would come around a bush and have a clear view of me. Just before they came around the bush they reeled back like they had hit an electric fence. Some of my scent must have moved that way on the early morning air currents. They did not seem to know what to do and just kept nervously milling around. I then spotted the long and lean wolf come back along my right side and return to them. The group then trotted up the route the big wolf had taken on my left flank and melted back into the forest.
I have never been worried about wolves, but as I think about that big wolf staring me down and then going on to get in position for the kill, I get second thoughts because I assume he is the one I had the turf war with six weeks earlier. I have had my moment so next time I will probably cry “WOLF.”
I soon noticed that animals had started scratching and marking a lot along the trails I was working on. On the third day of my draining I was on my way to an area miles away to do some work. As I approached the first spot of drainage work I heard something running in the brush to my right. A wolf then crossed the trail fifty feet in front of me. I was elated because this was the first wolf I had seen deep in the forest in over 20 years of hiking around Beltrami Island State Forest in Minnesota. The wolves are always close by but they are so crafty that you never get to see them.
I was carrying some empty tin cans out to the jeep with my backpack so I dropped them off and hiked another three miles before returning. On my way back I could see that the wolf had followed me and scratched his mark into the trail two miles from the first encounter. It finally dawned on me that I had stared a turf war with this wolf. With all the digging I had done to drain water and all the tea that I had left at these spots he finally had enough and confronted me. It explained why I was able to walk up on a crafty old wolf while carrying a pack full of empty tin cans.
Early November found me back at my cabin for the deer season. I spent a lot of the first week sitting in my tree stands. On the eighth day I decided to do some still hunting and headed out at first light. It was a cold crisp morning with clear skies and little wind. You could not walk without making a lot of noise so I would mimic the pattern of a deer moving through the woods. I would walk and stop and move a few steps and stop again. By eight thirty I had gone west about two miles. As I neared the edge of a brushy area I spotted ears moving in some brush 75 feet in front of me. I had deer on the mind and thought I had jumped a doe and fawns. I was trying to make out what was going on when I spotted big wolf staring back at me through an opening in the brush. He kept staring and I soon realized that the morning sun was right behind my head and he could not make me out. A long and lean wolf then left the group and trotted in the brush and went by me about 30 feet to my right. When it had gotten behind me the largest wolf started working around on my left side. It was trotting and I was amazed at the heavy sounds of its footfalls and the noise it was making in the brush. It had traveled around me about 30 degrees from where it had first stood with the sun in its eyes. It stopped in an opening in the brush and looked over at me for a full minute. We were both in the open and I was thrilled at seeing such a beautiful animal so close. The morning sun highlighted his stunning winter pelt. I was sure that the wolf pack thought that I was a deer but could not make me out with the sun in their eyes. It was obvious they were setting up for an attack. When the big wolf stared at me I felt the game was up and I was waiting to see how he was going to alert the others. Instead he continued his trot up my left flank. I was thoroughly enjoying the moment and not thinking of the consequences. There were at least two wolves still standing at the original spot seventy-five feet away. After a little while they started coming forward at a fast crawl with their bellies close to the ground. At fifty feet they would come around a bush and have a clear view of me. Just before they came around the bush they reeled back like they had hit an electric fence. Some of my scent must have moved that way on the early morning air currents. They did not seem to know what to do and just kept nervously milling around. I then spotted the long and lean wolf come back along my right side and return to them. The group then trotted up the route the big wolf had taken on my left flank and melted back into the forest.
I have never been worried about wolves, but as I think about that big wolf staring me down and then going on to get in position for the kill, I get second thoughts because I assume he is the one I had the turf war with six weeks earlier. I have had my moment so next time I will probably cry “WOLF.”
Copyright 2004 by Martin Kehoe- http://www.canoestories.com/kehoe/wolf1c.htm
What a great story Marten. Thank you for sharing!
come up to Northern Ontario in the spring when all the babies start dropping, or in early fall when they leave the pups in a meadow so they can hunt. If you get off the beaten path odds are good that you'll eventually see one
Hi Rubbaboo. We are wildlife photographers ; and we are planning to visit Whitefish lake area, probably next year. Would you share with us, some places where you were able to see some wolves' den ? Does this place on the Elk River that you are mentionning, is far away from Whitefish River ? We were planning to stay near to the former basecamp that was operated before by Tundra Tom. Thank you a lot in advance for your help and advices.
I gotta start carrying a telephoto camera. Trouble is, having it ready for fleeting wildlife moments. Plus, getting a photo is not my priority in the moment, only later do I lament not getting a shot. I’m not overly fearful of wolves. They seem to have plenty of easy game like turkeys and house pets in my neck of the woods. I have carried a pistol to frighten them away mostly. I do admit to forgetting to bring it when my dog’s not along. Honestly, I’d like to see the predator population increase and commercial hunting be reduced, more of a natural balance. Not likely to happen. Some teens shot a wolf last spring. I doubt it was really necessary, knowing teenagers and from experience with wolves in the Rockies and Great Lakes areas. I just don’t feel threatened in wolf encounters. They’re generally interested in getting away from me. If that’s ever not the case, and they devour me, at least it’s an interesting story for my descendants. They hardly know anything about me now, that would leave a legacy at least. Dying from a big bear attack would likely be quicker and just as interesting however, so that’s my personal preference. Both fates relatively quick and outside, so be preferable to what I’ve seen people go through. Just look at it that way and your fear will dissipate.
I recently ran into a local guy who brought two wolf hybrids to the city dog park. My wife and I were passing by with our 3 dogs, so we entered the park to let them play. The wolf owner called his “huskies” when I asked, although they were clearly not full blood huskies, clearly wolf hybrids. Bogan enjoyed playing with the big dogs, although the owner was clearly nervous and soon gathered his dogs and left. I’m not sure about the legality of owning hybrids in town. Just call ‘em big long legged gray huskies and never let them get loose.