Ask a conservation officer

[Lee Borgersen]

               Ask a conservation officer :

 Do wolves pose threat in woods to dogs and owners?

Q:     I heard that a dog was killed by a wolf near Brighton Beach, and now someone found a freshly killed deer carcass in Lester Park as well. Should I be concerned for my safety and the safety of my pets when in the woods? Does the DNR relocate wolves?

A: Although some of these recent stories are concerning, we need to remember that wolves and coyotes are a part of our Northland ecosystem, and have used our forested areas and parklands, including within the city of Duluth, for a long time before these incidents.

It is extremely rare for a wolf to approach humans, but wolves are territorial and can view domestic dogs as competition. Pet owners should keep their dogs on a leash — something that is required in the city limits except in certain designated off-leash areas. The International Wolf Center’s website, wolf.org, has some helpful information about living and recreating in wolf country.

Current federal regulations, and the Endangered Species Act listing of wolves as “threatened,” means that a person may only take a wolf in defense of human life. The DNR does not trap and relocate wolves. Wolves can only be trapped under the USDA Wildlife Services program, and only where there is verified damage to livestock or domestic pets. Wolves trapped under this program are destroyed — so minimizing potential conflicts between pets and wolves should be our first course of action.

                                  Here dogie ...dogie


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