By STEPHEN ANDERSON , Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
ATLANTIC MINE – A wolf is suspected of killing a sled dog Tuesday in Atlantic Mine, the second such attack within a month in the vicinity, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday.
“We got this reported to us (Tuesday), sent an officer to the site, and he did confirm he felt it was a wolf that killed this animal,” DNR wildlife biologist Brian Roell said.
The 18-year-old, 60-pound retired sled dog was outside and unrestrained when the attack occurred, and according to tracks in the area, the DNR said it looks like a lone wolf made the attack. The rural property owner’s name was not released.
“In this case we didn’t have a (wolf) carcass to look at, so we simply make the identification by wolf tracks,” Roell said.
Another dog was killed by a wolf in Atlantic Mine April 28 and according to Roell, farmer Rich Johnson was given a 30-day permit to kill wolves on his property. He successfully killed one wolf and his permit is still active.
The DNR encourages people to call when wolves create a problem in an area, but because of the second attack in Atlantic Mine, Roell advises people to report all sightings of wolves in that area.
To report sightings, call the DNR office in Baraga at 353-6651 or the Marquette office at 228-6561.