Gray Wolf Tracks in the snow - 10 feet from my driveway

[dado potato]

About one-half inch of snow fell last night, and I believe a lone gray wolf trotted on the asphalt-paved road. Then it looks like he made a 120-degree turn and trotted through my front yard toward the forest land next door. Since then, more flurries of snow fell, partially obscuring the tracks. In-line the paw prints are about 23" apart, suggesting a direct register trot.

The numbers of individual gray wolves and of packs in Northern WI has increased considerably since 1980. They were removed from the federal government endangered species list in January 2021. When the snow is a few inches deeper, I probably will snowshoe into the forest and look for tracks of a pack. (In past winters I have heard wolves howling from that direction (South-east) and also from the North-east (where there is a golf course and more wild land).

4099

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[Rogar]

Cool. Do you worry about wolves when out snow shoeing in their domain?

My state just recently passed a proposal to re-introduce the wolf. It was one of the more contencious regional issues on the ballot with the ranchers against and city folk for. A country friend said that they are bringing back what his grandfather spent time getting rid of. I read an old account of a rancher from back a hundred years or so ago and they had shot a wolf preying on his cattle. It weighed 150 pounds (!) and there was a bounty.

[catherine]

Cool. Do you worry about wolves when out snow shoeing in their domain?

My state just recently passed a proposal to re-introduce the wolf. It was one of the more contencious regional issues on the ballot with the ranchers against and city folk for. A country friend said that they are bringing back what his grandfather spent time getting rid of. I read an old account of a rancher from back a hundred years or so ago and they had shot a wolf preying on his cattle. It weighed 150 pounds (!) and there was a bounty.

It is a delicate balance to determine whether humans are interfering or intervening for positive purposes. This is an old video, but if you haven't seen it, it really is worth a view: "How Wolves Change Rivers."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q

[razz]

I loved that video the first time that I saw it and yet again just now viewing it again. Thanks for sharing, both Dado and Catherine.

[dado potato]

Cool. Do you worry about wolves when out snow shoeing in their domain?



The risk of an attack is quite low. There is an abundance of deer and other prey in the forest. Most likely the wolves would hear me coming from a quarter-mile or more, and if they heard me coming closer, I believe they would move out of my way. It would be a good idea to go with a buddy and to carry a cell phone.

[happystuff]

Wow! Great video! I've never seen it before. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Rogar]

It is a delicate balance to determine whether humans are interfering or intervening for positive purposes. This is an old video, but if you haven't seen it, it really is worth a view: "How Wolves Change Rivers."

That's a nice video. I suspect the impact of wolves differs by ecosystem and the availability of easy domestic animal meals. One of my favorite movies of all times is, "Never Cry Wolf". It's older but still relevant.