Conservation officers killed a wolf this morning near the Whitehorse landfill.
By Stephanie Waddell
Conservation officers killed a wolf this morning near the Whitehorse landfill.
Ken Knutson, Environment Yukon’s southern field operations manager, said the wolf is believed to be one of the three that followed a woman walking her dog along a trail in Porter Creek two nights ago.
“We have a concern for public safety,” Knutson said.
He stressed the importance of people keeping their pets leashed when outside or in a secured area like a fenced yard if they are off-leash.
Knutson said the woman contacted the TIPP line (1-800-661-0525) after her encounter.
She had been walking along a greenbelt trail in the Porter Creek “C” area when the three animals, which appeared to her to be wolves, made a tripod formation near her and her dog.
They kept their distance as she yelled and screamed, making her way back to her house through the back gate to her yard. Her partner came out to see what was going on.
After the gate was closed, he too confirmed her belief that the animals were wolves.
While it’s not unusual to receive reports of wolf sightings in some areas around Whitehorse, such as those near McIntyre Creek and near the landfill, Knutson said it’s rare that wolves would follow a person along the trail.
“These wolves may have become habituated to the presence of people, as it is not common for wolves to approach people,” Environment Yukon noted in statement.
Knutson said they’ve seen wolves in other communities become habituated to people after they start moving in around the community landfill and lose their fear of humans.
It’s possible that might be the case here as well, as the electric fencing around it is turned off during the winter months.
Since the woman’s call on Monday night, conservation officers have been following up to look for the wolves.
Coming across two wolves this morning near the landfill, they destroyed one in the interest of public safety. The other one left the area.
Knutson is reminding residents of the importance of walking their animals on-leash when outside, carrying a stick or even pepper spray and, if other people are available, walking with them.
“If you have a cell phone, carry your cell phone,” he advised.
Knutson also urged residents to call the TIPP line to report any encounters with wildlife.