Twenty-one cases of free-roaming wolf-dog hybrid incidents involving Wisconsin DNR or USDA-WS occurred between July 1989 and 1998 (Figure G1 and Table G1).
| Table G1 Free-roaming wolf-dog hybrid incidents/complaints in Wisconsin - July 1989 to December 1998 |
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| Date(s) | Year | Location | County | No.Sex/Age | Problems | Outcome |
| July-Aug | 1989 | Spooner, | Washburn | 2A/1Y/7P | Killed 10 sheep, mauled 5 sheep |
AM, AF and PM shot by landowner |
| August | 1991 | Stone Lake, | Washburn | 1AM+1AF | Attacked dogs spilled garbage |
Killed by sheriff's deputy |
| June | 1992 | Cable, | Bayfield | AF+2P | scavanging garbage | pups in APHIS trap killed by local person |
| Sept. | 1992 | Phillips, | Price | AF | close approach to people and pets |
live captured by APHIS held by DNR cooperator |
| Feb. 14 | 1994 | Clam Lake, | Sawyer | AF | found shot started investigation |
dog food in stomach shooter not found |
| Mar. | 1994 | Drummond, | Bayfield | 1AM/2YM | frightened people; stole pet food, challenged dogs | live capture DNR & APHIS placed on game farm |
| Apr. | 1995 | Brantwood, | Price | YM | visiting farm area concerned farmer |
live capture by DNR placed on game farm. |
| May 5 | 1995 | Chippewa Falls, | Chippewa | AM | road kill, started DNR investigation | necropsied. carcass to UW-Madison |
| Aug-Nov | 1995 | Minong, | Washburn | Unk. A | approached vehicle on road ate scraps | Observed for 4 months then disappeared |
| Feb-Mar | 1995 | Grantsburg, | Burnett | 3PF | attacked dogs challenged person |
two live captured, taken to Wildlife Sci. Center, MN; 1 shot#256 |
| June 7 | 1996 | Rhinelander, | Oneida | AF+1P | bit child | AF shot, tested for rabies, negative; pup given to hybrid owner |
| May 3 | 1997 | Webb Lake, | Burnett | 2A/1P | threatened people attacked warden |
All 3 shot by DNR warden |
| May | 1997 | Danbury, | Burnett | AM | 21 calves lost on farm? wolves? | recaptured by owner |
| Feb | 1998 | Winter, | Sawyer | AF | bred with dog, close approach to people | Shot by DNR biologist. |
| Apr 20 | 1998 | Monico | Oneida | AM&AF | Attacked German Shepard in back yard | Captured by Owner after USDA-WS investigation |
| Aug 13 | 1998 | Tomahawk | Lincoln | 3A | Attacked black labrador in back yard | Attempted capture by DNR/USDA-WS but disappeared |
| Aug 26 | 1998 | Monico | Oneida | YF | Roadkill - started DNR investigation | Necropsied, carcass to UW-Madison |
| Sept 10 - Nov 3 | 1998 | Beaver Dam | Dodge | AF | Roamed farm area after escape | Captured by owner |
| Oct 8 | 1998 | Tripoli | Lincoln | AM | Possible hybrid, roadkill, started DNR investigation | necropsied, carcass to UW-Madison, investigation ongoing |
| Oct 25 | 1998 | Big Falls | Waupaca | 2A | Attacked black labrador | DNR/USDA-WS investigated |
These cases involved 44 different animals, including 14 wolf-dog hybrids that were shot, 3 accidentally killed (vehicle collisions), 12 live-captured and placed in captivity, and 9 disappeared or remained in the wild.
Livestock were verified killed/attacked by one group of hybrids in 1989, and possible depredation by a wolf-dog hybrid occurred in 1997. A wolf-dog hybrid was known to be free-roaming on a farm that had 9 calves killed and 21 missing. Although some calves were verified as probably killed by wolves, the presence of the wolf-dog hybrid complicated investigation/verification of losses.
Wolf-dog hybrids challenged or attacked dogs or humans in 8 cases, including 1 case of a hybrid biting a child. In at least two cases, female wolf-dog hybrids apparently bred with dogs, and one produced a pup in captivity.
Although most wolf-dog hybrids did not cause serious problems, the lack of fear of people and their pets posed real concerns. Agency dealings with wolf-dog hybrids consumed time and expense that could have been spent on wolf conservation.
Calls and reports of wolf-like animals initiated investigations by WDNR or USDA-WS and sometime involved lengthy attempts at live-capturing.
Because of concerns for protecting wild wolves, control actions have been applied very carefully. Once wolf populations are more secure, more liberal controls can be applied toward wolf-like animals that lack fear of people and occur in residential and farmland areas.