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Manhunters

By Andrew McKean

Feb 28, 2006

Big-game populations are also being affected at an increasing rate. The famed Northern Yellowstone elk herd, for instance, has declined from about 14,500 head in 2000 to about 9,500 in 2005. Similar consequences for elk, deer and moose herds are being documented in other areas where wolf populations are especially robust. Of course, bears share much of the blame.

An extensive study of wolf attacks compiled by Alaska Fish and Game biologist Mark McNay in 2002 indicates that most wolf-human encounters in Alaska and Canada over the last century involved wolves that had been habituated by humans.

As wolf populations expand and ungulate herds decline or redistribute, humans are bound to see more wolves roaming closer to rural communities for longer periods of time. Keeping them away from livestock, garbage and other easy forage will be key to minimizing potentially violent encounters.

Proceed With Caution
Whether Carnegie's death-the lone human fatality by a wolf in North America-remains an aberration will probably depend more on the behavior of humans than on the behavior of wolves, says Ed Bangs. The federal biologist then cites the most recent report of a brazen wolf. On December 2, a houndsman from Kooskia, Idaho, reported that one of his cougar hounds had been killed by a wolf in Idaho's Selway River country.

As the houndsman retrieved his dog, "one of the wolves approached to within ten yards and was acting very aggressive, growling as it advanced," reports Bangs. The Idaho wolf backed down, but the scenario squares with Bill Topping's experience in Saskatchewan. "All of us north-country truckers carry pepper spray, and nobody who can help it goes out alone, even in the daytime and even right on the highway," says Topping. "The wolves are just getting way too thick and way too bold."

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