Wolf injuries Lab puppy
By RALPH ANSAMI
Globe News Editor
PENCE, Wis. — Shaun Smee said his 10-month-old black Labrador weighs more than 50 pounds but was no match for a wolf that attacked Tuesday in a wooded area south of Pence.
Smee, of Hurley, was tending to a minnow trap about four miles from the Gile Flowage when the wolf, about twice the size of the dog, attacked, tossing around the black Lab like a little puppy.
The wolf took off, but not until it had chewed up the dog.
“There are deep bite marks along the dog’s back,” Smee said. The female dog was being treated by a veterinarian Wednesday. “I hope she makes it,” Smee said.
A young man who “spends most of my free time outdoors,” Smee said he didn’t see any other wolves in the wooded area at the time.
He figures the wolf would have killed the dog if he hadn’t scared it away. “It was lucky I got to her before the wolf killed her. What would have happened if she wasn’t with me?” he wondered.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reimburses claims from owners of dogs that are killed and injured by wolves, but Smee was unsure if he’ll be paid for the vet’s bill if his dog recovers from the injuries.
While wolf attacks on dogs are not uncommon in northern Wisconsin, most of them involve bear dogs that come too close to dens, DNR wildlife officials note.
In April through September 2002, 53 domestic animals and pets were killed in Wisconsin by wolves, all in the northern part of the state. A total of $33,429 was reimbursed to the owners in that period, with many claims pending. Twenty animals (all sheep) were listed as missing and two were injured.
Animals killed by wolves included 31 calves, eight dogs, seven sheep, three deer (in a farm), two cows and two horses.
The WDNR paid $100 for a hunting dog that was injured in Douglas County in September.
A mare and colt were killed in Vilas County on July 26. The state paid the owner of the horses $10,429, according to a wolf status report that was released earlier this year.
While some of the dog loss reimbursements were pending when the report was released, the state paid $8,000 for four hunting dogs that were killed in Taylor County and reimbursed a dog owner $2,500 for a Plott hound killed in Oneida County.
There was one report of a German Shepherd injured by a wolf on May 13, 2002. The wolf was trapped and relocated, with no claim filed for damages by the owner.
No animals from Iron County were listed in the report of kills by wolves, although there are several wolf packs in the county.