Please help find justice for Wolf 813 because she was more than just a wolf

She was Family.

Twelve months and 12 days after the killing of Wolf 813 the incident remains under investigation by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Why is the investigation into the death of Wolf 813 taking over a year to resolve?

Wolf 813. At approximately 02:00 AM on December 25, 2023, a retired DNR Conservation Warden and pro-wolf hunt advocate shot a wolf at his door. Ron Nordin, Jr., a Wildlife Technician for Red Cliff Tribe, got the news from the DNR after the holiday break that Wolf 813, a collard wolf he had been monitoring for over ten years, was killed. Ron and his wife Misty tell the story of the wolf they knew as Wolf 813, Matriarch of the Echo Valley Pack, and how her life and death impacted them as members of the Red Cliff Ojibwe Tribe.

A short film dedicated to Wolf 813

Wolf 813: More than just a wolf, a Short Film, Cast: Ron and Misty Nordin, Jr., Genevieve Adamski. Director and Producer Rachel Tilseth, Editor Justin Koehler, Camera Rachel Tilseth. Webcam footage of Wolf 813 provided by Red Cliff (Ojibwe) Treaty Natural Resources

“To the Anishinaabe people, Ma’iinganag are teachers and relatives. GLIFWC laments the loss of this important family matriarch.” from the Press Release by the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission on January 29, 2024

Call to Action

The investigation has been on going now for 12 months, 12 days. Who’s in charge of investigating the death of Wolf 813? Twelve months and 12 days after the killing of Wolf 813 the incident remains under investigation by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Why is the investigation into the death of Wolf 813 taking over a year to resolve?

Make a call to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Madison, WI · (608) 238-9333 and ask them why the investigation into the shooting of Wolf 813 still not resolved. Be polite.

Wolf 813 was a Matriarch of the Echo Valley Wolf Pack in Bayfield county, Wisconsin. Red Cliff (Ojibwa) Treaty Natural Resources Department was actively monitoring the Echo Valley pack.

Who Shot Wolf 813

The following was reported by: Henry Redman – February 29, 2024 of the Wisconsin Examiner

A former Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warden who served on the agency’s committee to create a new wolf management plan for the state is under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for killing a wolf in his yard in December. He has claimed self-defense, but he posted on Facebook in November that he was baiting the animals with doughnuts and rice crispy cereal.

The warden, Patrick Quaintance, also sits on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress where he holds positions on the body’s fur harvest and bear committees. The conservation congress serves as an important pathway between residents in Wisconsin and environmental policy makers. In the past, conservation groups have complained that the body is controlled by pro-hunting interests.

Quaintance has been vocal about his anti-wolf beliefs. An advocate for the controversial practice of using hounds in hunting, he has regularly spoken at meetings about his belief that there should be fewer wolves in Wisconsin.

A month before killing the wolf, in November, Quaintance posted a photo of a wolf from a trail camera on his property to his Facebook page. In the comments, he is asked what he’s baiting them with.

He first responds with an emoji of a doughnut before adding that he used “rice crispy.” Another commenter responds with “snap crackle POP.”

The wolf Quaintance killed was part of the Echo Valley pack and had been collared and studied by the Red Cliff Ojibwe tribe and the DNR for the past nine years. During that time she gave birth to 35 pups, according to Genevieve Adamski, a wildlife specialist for the tribe.

“She’s an extraordinary animal to have lived this long and collared and researched for so long,” Adamski, who was unable to comment on the wolf’s killing because of the ongoing investigation, says. “So yeah, her loss kind of was — you know, you’re trying to keep research separate from your personal opinions and all of that — but she was a long-standing colleague for a lot of people up here.”

Adamski says that having a collar on a breeding female wolf can be especially important for researchers because it gives insight into data such as pup survival rate, population estimates and home ranges.

In the photograh is Ron Nordin, Jr. a Wildlife Tech who put a GPS collar on Wolf 813 as part of Red Cliff (Ojibwa) Treaty Natural Resources Department monitoring of the Echo Valley pack.

A review of the film dedicated to Wolf 813

Review by https://shortfilmsmatter.com/9066/more-than-a-wolf-wolf-813/
Rachel Tilseth‘s short documentary delves into the heartbreaking tragedy of a wild wolf’s death in Wisconsin, shedding light on a devastating event that strikes against the belief systems of many. With contributions from Ron Nordin Jr, Misty Nordin, and Genevieve Adamski of the Red Cliff Ojibwe Tribe, the film paints a poignant picture of loss and cultural conflict.

Despite its low budget, the film’s subject matter shines through, capturing the raw emotions of those affected by the wolf’s untimely demise. While the sound quality may not be top-tier, the clarity of the narrative remains intact, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the story.

The editing, though not extravagant, is executed with a respectable standard, ensuring that the focus remains on the gravity of the situation at hand. Through interviews and storytelling, the contributors effectively convey their knowledge and emotional depth, inviting viewers to empathize with their plight.

This tale is not only touching and upsetting but also serves as a powerful call to action, raising awareness about the cruelty of wildlife hunting. The documentary succeeds in highlighting the inherent value of these majestic creatures and the urgent need for conservation efforts.

In the end, the loss of this beautiful animal serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between humans and nature, leaving a lasting impact on those who bear witness to its story. Tilseth’s film honores the memory of the fallen Wolf 813.

The short film has been viewed 3,832 views since I uplaoed it on Mar 16, 2024.

I have been following the studies of the Echo Valley Wolf pack for a number of years so when I heard about her tragic ending knew I had to capture her story on film from those who knew her best. ~Rachel Tilseth, Producer/Director of More Than a Wolf: Wolf 813

A call to action for Wolf 813, she was more than just a wolf

Make a call to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Madison, WI · (608) 238-9333 and ask them why the investigation into the shooting of Wolf 813 still not resolved. Be polite.

Why is the investigation into the death of Wolf 813 taking over a year to resolve?