On July 5th, 2016 in Sawyer county, WI a hunting dog (Walker female, 6 years old) became the first fatality of wolves protecting thier rendezvous site against large packs of free ranging dogs pursuing bear.
WI DNR created a wolf caution area to warn hunters that are training dogs on bear about wolves actively protecting a rendezvous site in Sawyer county. View Dog depredations by wolves for 2016 (listed by date) on WI DNR website by clicking here.
Wolf pups are born around mid-April and are approximately two and a half months at the time WI bear hunters begin training dogs on bear starting July on first. Typically wolves leave their pups at a rendezvous site for safe keeping to be watched over by a babysitter. The pup’s family members keep a close eye on the rendezvous site while off hunting.
Adult wolves are very defensive of pups at rendezvous and end up killing dogs that come into contact with pups near rendezvous sites. Dogs run in large free roaming packs up to 6 at a time in pursuit of bear.
During training on bear these hunting dogs wear collars equipped with radio telemetry devices. The dog’s handlers are often miles away from the scene in bear trucks monitoring the hounds with radio telemetry or even satellite GPS training and tracking systems. GPS training and tracking systems may have a range of up to ten miles.
Handlers that lose dogs to wolves defending their pups can be reimbursed up to $2,500.00 per dead dog. It’s a win win situation for hound hunters that send their dogs in pursuit of bear during training and hunting. *please note: WODCW does not believe that hunters leave thier dogs out for wolves to kill on purpose to collect money.
For more information on what to do if you live in areas where hunters train and pursue bear with dogs click here.
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Featured Image: Wild Wolf Pup by John E Marriott Photography
This is why hound hunting should end and hunters should keep an eye on their dogs and the habitat they take them into. The fault here relies solely on the dog owner.