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Timber Wolf
Information Network
SHARING THE LAND AND LIVING WITH
WOLVES
Guidelines and resources to help people live, work, and recreate safely in wolf country while reducing conflicts and protecting both people and wolves.
INTRODUCTION
Many people live and recreate in areas shared with wolves. In many cases, people may not even be aware that this is the case.
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Generally shy, wolves tend to avoid contact with people. Wolves live in family groups - called packs - that usually consist of a breeding pair of wolves and their offspring. Each pack holds on to a discrete space called a territory. The size of these territories is typically large (about 30-650 square miles), varying from region to region, depending on the abundance of the predominant diet, which generally consists of hoofed mammals (deer, elk, moose, etc.). Pups are born each spring and stay with the family for about one-and-a-half years.
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Wolves occasionally come close to human dwellings or worksites, often while in search of prey. Normally they move on without causing problems, however, in some instances they attack livestock and pets. While rare, at times wolves have also become accustomed to people, the resulting behavior can result in nuisance or threat concerns. Wolves sometimes kill livestock and/or occasionally become habituated to humans. Such nuisance wolves are best removed from the population to avoid further conflict.
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Any wild animal can sometimes be dangerous. This is especially true if the animal perceives itself to be cornered, in cases where it may be injured or sick, or it has become habituated to people and expects to be fed. With large predators such as wolves and bears, it is particularly important for people to avoid encouraging these animals to spend time near people or become dependent on food rewards.
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Below are guidelines to decrease the chance of close encounters or experiencing conflict while living, working, or recreating in wolf country. It is important to note that many of these suggestions will reduce conflicts with other carnivores such as bears as well.
DON'T FEED WOLVES
Wolves are opportunistic predators, and in their search for food, they follow their nose. They sometimes become attracted to garbage, family pets, or wild prey attracted by baits (suet, corn, sunflower seeds) set out by people to view - or hunt - wildlife. Hunters and trappers leaving carcasses or remains near human dwellings can also attract wolves and other predators. Remain alert for wolf sign such as tracks or droppings near your home or work area.
Recommendations to Minimize Negative Encounters:
➢ Properly dispose of food scraps, including fruits, bakery products, and especially meat scraps.
➢ Pack and carry all food scraps and garbage out. Dispose of garbage in containers with secure lids.
➢ Bait or feeding sites that attract songbirds, turkeys, or deer may, in turn, attract wolves or bears. If aware that wolves are nearby, discontinue feeding until wolves move off to another corner of their large territories.
➢ Livestock dying from natural causes should be quickly disposed of, following state guidelines or laws, and not left where they are accessible to wolves and other scavengers.
➢ Hang suet feeders at least 7 feet above the surface of the ground or snow.
➢ Install motion sensor lights or noise boxes as these may help keep wolves away.
SHARING THE LAND INFO IN WOLF COUNTRY
Pets should always be monitored by their owners in areas where they may encounter wildlife. Unsupervised dogs that stray from their owner’s homes or from their handlers while walking in wolf territories can be at risk. Wolves treat dogs as trespassers on their territories and if encountered, may kill or injure them, especially if the wolves have pups nearby.
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Recommendations to Minimize Negative Encounters:
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Do not leave pet food outdoors. This can attract wild animals, including wolves. Wolves quickly become acclimated to a consistent food source; this could lead to an attack that may injure or kill pets.
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If wolves have been sighted nearby, confine pets indoors or in pens until wolves have moved on.
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In wolf range, do not leave pets unattended or chained outside - dogs and cats may become easy targets. If left unattended, keep them in a kennel with a secure top.
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If you are hiking or walking with your dog, keep it in SIGHT or VOICE CONTROL. If wolf sign is seen (tracks, droppings) you should keep your dog leashed.
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If you believe your pet has been injured or killed by a wolf, preserve evidence such as tracks. Contact the appropriate authority as soon as possible (see section on REPORTING CONFLICTS).
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While most farms in wolf country will not experience wolf attacks to their livestock, some farms have seen chronic wolf depredations over numerous years. To assist livestock producers, State Agencies have various brochures and online wolf informational reports with mapping tools to aid and assist them in protecting their livestock from wolf depredations (see section on BECOME INFORMED).
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If you believe that your livestock has been injured or killed by a wolf, preserve evidence such as scat, tracks, and carcass remains (cover-up, do NOT move). Contact the appropriate authority immediately, the sooner their personnel can investigate, the more likely they can identify the cause of the injuries or death (see section on REPORTING CONFLICTS).
Hunters may come into close contact with wolves while pursuing their sports.
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Wolves may be attracted to hunting hounds, particularly if released near bear bait sites. They may defend their pups, rid hounds invading what wolves consider their space (territory), and eliminate competition for food (including baits). Deer archery hunters and turkey hunters who use camouflage to conceal themselves, deer scent attractants, and/or calls of animals that wolves typically hunt, may find themselves close to wolves. In recent years, several bow hunters and turkey hunters have had close encounters with wolves. None of these hunters were harmed, and all reported that once the wolf or wolves were aware of their presence (made difficult by the camouflage and deer scent), they quickly retreated, leaving the hunter awed (and sometimes a little unnerved) by the experience. Trappers occasionally catch wolves in their traps, and predator hunters may call wolves in with predator calls.
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Recommendations to Minimize Negative Encounters:
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➢ Place buck or doe hormone scent on inanimate objects such as a stump or clump of brush. When placing the scent attractant be careful NOT to inadvertently expose you or your clothing to the scent. Wolves have a keen sense of smell and use their nose to locate prey; scent may attract a wolf and lead to an uncomfortable encounter.
➢ Turkey hunters, waterfowl hunters, and predator hunters should be aware that their calls may attract a wolf or wolf pack in for a closer inspection, and closer still if a decoy is used.
➢ Dispose of wild animal remains properly.
➢ Do not clean wild game (including fish) in heavily used areas such as campgrounds and hunting access areas.
What to do in case a wolf or wolves approaches uncomfortably close?
✓ Make your presence known by standing, shouting, waving your arms, and if the need arises, throwing rocks or sticks.
✓ Climb a tree or cliff face.
✓ Exit the area by WALKING backwards or in a diagonal direction away from the wolf while keeping an eye on the animal(s).
✓ Have telephone numbers of local wildlife officials handy if you incidentally capture a wolf in a trap set for another species. State natural resource personnel can assist in removing a wolf from a trap and may be interested in radio collaring the animal.
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Wolves are accustomed to defending their territory from other wild canid intruders, such as wolves from neighboring packs and coyotes. Because of this instinct to defend their territory, wolves sometimes attack hunting dogs. Free-ranging hunting dogs such as hounds are at the greatest risk because they normally are not under the direct control of their owners.
Recommendations to Minimize Negative Encounters:
➢ Avoid areas that have recent history of wolf-dog conflicts or wolf activity. Contact your natural resources wildlife officials to find out areas to avoid. Some states make this information available online or will even send out email alerts.
➢ Avoid releasing dogs in areas with abundant wolf sign. If fresh wolf scat and tracks are present, hunt elsewhere or at another time.
➢ Make noise while hunting with dogs to alert wolves that humans are nearby.
➢ Do not release hounds on bear baits that have been heavily used by wolves.
➢ Recover all hunting hounds released during a chase on the same day.
➢ Keep hounds under immediate control and/or be aware of their locations.
➢ Begin recovery of your hounds well in advance of dusk.
➢ Do not allow hounds to scavenge deer remains. Wolves often scavenge deer remains and “claim” this important food source.
With bird hunting dogs, use beeper collars or bells and whistles to always maintain good visual and auditory contact with your dog.
NOTE: Wolves are protected by state and possibly federal laws, in most states, killing or injuring a wolf is unlawful except in self-defense. Learn the laws of the states you will be recreating in.
Pets should always be monitored by their owners in areas where they may encounter wildlife. Unsupervised dogs that stray from their owner’s homes or from their handlers while walking in wolf territories can be at risk. Wolves treat dogs as trespassers on their territories and if encountered, may kill or injure them, especially if the wolves have pups nearby.
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Recommendations to Minimize Negative Encounters:
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Do not leave pet food outdoors. This can attract wild animals, including wolves. Wolves quickly become acclimated to a consistent food source; this could lead to an attack that may injure or kill pets.
-
If wolves have been sighted nearby, confine pets indoors or in pens until wolves have moved on.
-
In wolf range, do not leave pets unattended or chained outside - dogs and cats may become easy targets. If left unattended, keep them in a kennel with a secure top.
-
If you are hiking or walking with your dog, keep it in SIGHT or VOICE CONTROL. If wolf sign is seen (tracks, droppings) you should keep your dog leashed.
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If you believe your pet has been injured or killed by a wolf, preserve evidence such as tracks. Contact the appropriate authority as soon as possible (see section on REPORTING CONFLICTS).
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