Timber wolves kill and injure bear hounds
PARK FALLS– Wolves killed two dogs and injured another last week in the first occurrence of attacks during the current bear hound training period.
The incidents were confirmed by investigators from the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and took place northwest of Rhinelander in Oneida County and southwest of Clam Lake in Sawyer County.
Adrian Wydeven, Department of Natural Resources mammalian ecologist, said that wolves have pups in rendezvous sites at this time of the year and it is probable that they were protecting their young.
“We ask bear hunters to exercise greater caution in these areas if they plan to train or hunt near them,” Wydeven said.
In Oneida County a new caution area has been set up with Cty. K on the south, Hwy. 51 on the west, Cty. D on the north and Hwy. 47 on the east.
In Sawyer County the caution area extends along Hwy. 77 and Forest Service Rd. 174 on the north, Cty. GG on the east, the east branch of the Chippewa River and Cty. B on the south and Cty. A on the west.
Maps of the caution areas are shown on the DNR wolf Web site:
dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/mammals/wolf/dogdepred.htm.
The owners of the dogs will be provided compensation from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the losses.
Hunters may train dogs by pursuing bear from July 1 to August 31 of each year.
No more than six dogs may be used in any one training exercise and the dogs cannot kill any bear or other animals during the pursuit.