Wolves on the attack nearby
Wolves have killed three dogs and injured another in the first occurrence of attacks this year during the recently opened bear hound training period, officials with the state Department of Natural Resources report.
Additionally, a dog was killed near a home within an area where extensive training occurs. Investigators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services confirmed the wolf attacks. They took place west of Rhinelander in Oneida County and south of Neillsville in Clark County.
Adrian Wydeven, DNR mammalian ecologist, said wolves have pups in rendezvous sites at this time of the year, and it is probable they were protecting their young.
“We ask bear hunters to exercise greater caution if they plan to train or hunt near known wolf depredation sites hunters should be familiar with caution area “http://dnr. wi.gov/org/land/er/mammals/wolf/dogdepred.htm#Caution” maps on the DNR wolf web site,” Wydeven said.
Hunters may train dogs by pursuing bear from July 1 to August 31 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. Hunters are reminded that the gray wolf currently is listed as a federally endangered species and persons convicted of killing a wolf are subject to possible jail time and fines.
On July 4, a 2-year-old hunting hound, a Redbone female, was killed by wolves west of Rhinelander, and a 3-year-old male Walker was injured. The pack involved was probably the Cassian Pack that killed one hound and injured another during training last year. The Cassian pack consisted of three or four wolves this past winter and is thought to have produced pups this spring.
In a separate July 4 incident, a 9-year-old male Walker was killed by wolves in the Brushy Ridge Pack of southwest Clark County. This pack has not previously attacked dogs. It consisted of five wolves this past winter and apparently had pups this spring.
On July 7, wolves severely injured a 9-year-old dachshund near a home east of Clam Lake in Ashland County in the area of the Torch River Pack. This pack had not previously been known to attack dogs. The pack consisted of four wolves this past winter and likely produced pups this spring.
On July 8, wolves killed a 5-year old dog, a Bluetick female, in the area of the Eau Claire River Pack in western Clark County near the Eau Claire County line. The pack was not known to have previously attacked dogs. The pack consisted of five or six wolves this past winter and appears to have produced pups this spring.