Dog attacked by Wolves during Grouse hunting

[Mudflap]

My 55 lb English Setter was attacked by 3 Wolves on Oct 16th. at 10:00 in the morning with a beeper collar cranked up for my deaf ears to hear.

I witnessed this from a 25 yard vantage point.

These 3 were in kill mode and didn't care if I yelled, shot in the air or ran at them like a crazed maniac. I'm glad that the outcome came out positive due to fact that the dog was working close at that moment.

I had just read of a guy on the Photograpy thread of his Lab being attacked very similar and had to respond. Many other dogs in Northern Minnesota have also been attacked and killed lately,in the field and rural yards.

I just wanted to inform hunters to keep your dogs in view while in the woods and alert the local CO to Wolf encounters.

[LightningBG]

If I could get a clear shot (away from the dog), I'd blast one. Deal with the consequences with my dog at my side.

[Steve Foss]

Glad to hear everything turned out OK, Mudflap. How did you get the wolves out of there?

[bobbymalone]

How did you get the wolves out of there?

Well he said he tried yelling, running and shooting in the air and that didn't work

[CJH]

No good.

Glad you are alright.

[rwwong]

Where abouts were you?

[Pinusbanksiana]

Would be nice to know where the attack occurred.

[Jack Peterson]

If a wolf ever attacks my dog(s). It's going down. I could care less.

[nonteepical]

[PoorWordUsage] right , shoot the wolf.

[gatorhunter]

Don't blame wolves for being wolves! It's not their fault that they eat dogs!

Having said that, any wolf that looks at my lab with lunch on his mind will be in for quite a surprise!

[mww24]

gatorhunter has a point. Wolves job is to survive by any means necessary. It's definitley sad, but it's also my responsibility to protect to my dog by any means necessary.

[setterguy]

Scariest part is they had no problem getting that close to you. Hope your pal is OK.

[Ufatz]

Pretty amazing stuff!! How did you get the wolves to break off? It is NOT surprising that wolves attacked, they seem drawn to dogs for some reason. But usually if THREE wolves, which probably each weighed twice as much as your little dog, the encounter should have been over in seconds. You and the dog are very fortunate. Although they should not have been hungry, wolves have a propensity to kill just for the hell of it on occasion.

And if wolves in the area (where?) are that bold it might be time for some action on the part of wildlife officials.

I note that Anchorage area wolves in a couple specific spots are being thinned out for just that reason, and wolves are common as dirt around Anchorage.

Your dog is a lucky lil' canine.

[Acemac]

good argument to carry a side arm when hunting.

wow my heart droped when I read the post title glad your dog was ok!

[Mudflap]

This attack happened between Bemidji and Itasca State Park.

3 shots were fired into the air with me sprinting thru a poplar slashing.

After reloading, two loads were put into the flank of the most agressive of the 3 at 15 yards. I dry fired twice as the remaining two retreated on the same game trail I was standing on.

Considering at one point she had three wolves attached to her,wounds were superficial.

I reported it to the Authorities and no charges were pressed. They gave me the impression that atacks like this are becoming frequent and packs have become very territorial as habitat dwindles.

The days of just having a pointing dog within beeper collar hearing distance are over for me.

[Ufatz]

Okay, thanks for follow-up information. Your hunting pal is a perfect example of the proverbial "lucky dog" I'd say! Ha! Wolves DO have a propensity to attack dogs (some, of a deep earthy spiritual nature claim they do it because they consider dogs traitors) and they will grab them right out of your yard when there get to be TOO many of them and they become to casual about contact with man.

Those of us who hunt where there are wolves have to keep that fact in mind. And I would assume the MN DNR people would take action when they are convinced the animals have become a serious threat.

In your case, count your blessings. You will have a heck of a story to tell your grandchildren.

[ItsaCrappieLife]

Time for a wolf hunting season. Better to have three wolf skin rugs on the floor than three wolves on your grouse dog. Write whoever you can think of and ask for a wolf season in MN.

[JayinMN]

My dog was the one that was attacked by two wolves over on the photography forum. I am glad to hear your dog is okay as well and its amazing she wasn't harmed. My dog is still on antibiotics and her wound is still draining but it does not look infected which is good.

[bobbymalone]

I reported it to the Authorities and no charges were pressed.

kudos to you for doing the right thing... both in protecting your dog and reporting it.

if this was a SSS scenario then the authorities will under estimate the frequency of this happening.

[DRH1175]

Wow, glad to hear that your pal is ok. It really doesn't surprise me though. Wolves are very territorial. They will even kill other wolves if they get into their territory. They are kinda like the Street gangs of the woods. In wolf territory I wouldn't leave my dog out of sight. It is quite scarry how close they came to you.

[brittman]

The actual number of wolves in this state is high and likely under reported. As I noted in another thread, it is probably why the cougars do not remain in the state too long and have not been able to become a viable population.

We are seeing wolves (pack) on our trail cams and they are not set too far North of the metro.

Between 100 - 200 wolves are killed in MN each year by USDA agent trappers. Another 100 - 200 wolves are captured and moved each year.

[mainbutter]

I reported it to the Authorities and no charges were pressed

Two giant thumbs up. Good job on protecting yourself and your dog, I'm so glad that there were no serious injuries!

[Steve Foss]

Good job of defense, Mudflap!

[mww24]

brittman. where you talking? I have a family friend who has reported seeing them around her farm just north of the metro. says they watch her young horse. she's kinda nutso though so i take it with a grain of salt, but who knows.

[walleye101]

Some of you suggest keeping your dog close or not letting them out of sight. That may be a practical option for the bird-doggers, but how about those of us who run hounds? Not really an option. It is long past time for some serious control measures.

[caseymcq]

Sorry to hear you girl got attacked. I wish her a speedy recovery.

... I reported it to the Authorities and no charges were pressed. ...

That's good because there should not have been any issue. Even under ESA protection it is legal to kill a wolf, "...posing an immediate threat on any property, as long as the owner is supervising the pet." Then it just has to be reported to a CO within 48 hours and "evidence" has to be preserved including surrendering the carcass to the CO.

At this point, the State doesn't have the authority to manage wolves. They are still afforded protected status under the ESA because of a lawsuit by, I believe, Defenders of Wildlife that reversed the recent delisting.

I am actually a big fan of wolves. They are magnificent animals, IMO. Through the course of my duties I have been within 20 feet of wolves and pups in the woods. I am also a dog owner and with that being said I have no qualms what so ever with someone killing one in defense of their pet.

[Harmonica Bear]

+1

I think they are cool as heck too. However, I wouldn't hesitate one minute to put lead in one if I, someone else, or my pet was under attack or imminent danger. I think I would pretty much skip the warning shot, as well.

Glad to hear your dog is ok!

[walleye101]

I'm glad you were able to intervene and save your companion from serious harm or death. You and your dog are very fortunate, many of these encounters turn out much worse. Some have expressed no problem with killing a wolf to defend your dog, and I certainly agree, but often there is little time to react, even for those with dogs that hunt fairly close. Very little chance for those of us who run hounds or even wide ranging pointers.

The reality is that these are no longer rare encounters as wolf densities continue to increase and their range expands. Expecting dog owners to "supervise" and fend off wolf attacks is an act of desperation made necessary by the inability (for social and legal, not biological, reasons) to manage the population at reasonable levels.

I agree that wolves are "cool" and "magnificent" animals, and do not advocate their extermination. However the attributes that made wolves unique and interesting was their relative rarity, secretive nature and association with wilderness. Much of the novelty has worn off now that they have become common sightings in densely populated areas. The wolf would be no less noble or magnificent (maybe more) if the population were managed at the level identified in the recovery plan of 1200-1500 rather than current levels.

[Matt Breuer]

walleye101, great last paragraph! I completely agree! We see them more and more, especially while hunting up by our cabin between Grygla and Roseau. They seem less and less scared of man every time I encounter one. From tearing up a carcass in a field just off the ditch edge to meandering across a grouse trail during broad daylight 20 yards in front of a hunter....

Mudflap, I'm glad you said that it happened between Bemidji and Itasca, otherwise people would think it happened in Nymore. We all know Nymore doesn't need wolves added to the bad rep it has already...

Glad the pup is good to go!

[brittman]

The wolf would be no less noble or magnificent (maybe more) if the population were managed at the level identified in the recovery plan of 1200-1500 rather than current levels.

EXACTLY.

Where would MN be without active bear hunting? They would be right on our doorstep and unafraid. If done correctly hunting can be used to manage predators.

The flip side is when a real severe winter returns to MN and it will, the deer population will drop and one would figure the wolf population would drop a year or two later. That year when deer popultions are way down and wolf populations will remain high will be full of depredation, dog encounters and even human encounters. The wolf population will cycle down via starvation and disease.