Video Could Signal Return of Wolves
John Hollenhorst Reporting
Some amateur videotape shot in the mountains east of Ogden has once again raised the question of whether wolves have returned to Utah. Although experts today threw some cold water on the video, it’s very timely.
In the mountains of Ogden Canyon there have been numerous reported wolf sightings lately. No one knows how valid they are, but finally someone has video. Roy Durham was out sightseeing last Wednesday when he shot video of two wolf-like animals.
He only shot a few seconds of video before the pair disappeared from sight, but he returned to the scene on Sunday and shot more video of a single animal.
If Durham really did capture video of wolves, it would be only the second confirmed sighting in Utah since they were exterminated about seventy years ago. We asked state experts to take a look, and they studied the video closely.
Craig McLaughlin, Utah Div. of Wildlife Resources: ýThe initial look I get would be coyote, but I canýt tell size from here.ý
The Wildlife Division is anxious to document wolf sightings in Utah. That’s because next week they begin crafting a statewide wolf policy at a series of public meetings. Most experts believe wolves are making occasional forays into the state, but they’d like to have better information.
In this case, they say it’s likely the video does not show wolves.
Craig McLaughlin: “Even from having an animal on film you can see how difficult it is to make a call. My call from this would be coyote.”
In spite of this apparent false alarm, wildlife officials do recommend you report any possible sighting. Get pictures if you can. And if you find footprints in the snow, take something of known size and throw it down next to it for a sense of scale, and take a picture of that.
At the moment wolves are heavily protected by law. It’s okay to shoot with a camera, but do it with a gun and you’re in big trouble.
Those meetings on wolf policy will be held on weeknights over the next two weeks in ten towns and cities around the state.