By Josh Schuder
Two Harbors, MN (NNCNOW.com) – A rash of wolf attack on the North Shore has wildlife officials warning pet owners to keep their furry companions close.
Bob VanGuilder lost a good friend to a pack of wild predators.
“His carcass was laying there in the deeper grass and there wasn’t anything left of him but the head and the feet,” said VanGuilder.
Five–year–old Gus was dragged out of his yard by wolves and quickly devoured early one morning.
VanGuilder says Gus wasn’t the only dog killed by wolves in the area, and wolves have been behaving differently.
“Nowadays they seem…when you do see them they don’t seem to have any fear. I didn’t think there was that much danger of them coming right up in the yard but I was fooled.”
Wildlife officials say they have noticed an increase in wolf sightings in the North Shore region.
“There’s definitely a few more wolves around in…in and around the City of Duluth and Two Harbors and in populated areas,” said Area Wildlife Manager Chris Balzer.
The DNR suspects that deer in search of food have been moving closer to homes to feed on bird feeders, and where’s there’s deer, wolves are sure to follow.
Because the timber wolf is federally protected, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is in charge of dealing with wolf issues.
Wolves are only euthanized if the USDA decides the animals are a threat to human life.
Wildlife officials stress for the most part, wolves are not a risk to humans.
“They really don’t pose a threat to people at all. It’s the…potentially pets and the biggest thing is to keep your pet on a leash,” said Balzer.
As for VanGuilder, he says he plans on getting another dog, but it won’t be an easy task to replace the young Labrador.
“Another dog would have some big shoes to fill, I’ll tell you.”
Tips to keep wolves out of your yard, include disposing food and waste in cans with secured lids and installing motion sensor lights.