Dog Depredations by Wolves in Wisconsin - 2008

Each year, with the beginning of the Wisconsin bear hound training season, bear hunters are reminded to exercise caution if they plan to train hounds or hunt bear with hounds. Hunters should use the caution area maps below to help reduce conflicts during the upcoming hunting season.

Wolf packs currently have pups and use rendezvous sites from mid June to late September, after the pups are big enough to leave their den. Adult wolves are very defensive of pups at rendezvous sites and will attack other predators, including dogs, that get too close to the rendezvous site or the pups. Some hunters have had success with bells on dog collars to reduce wolf attacks, but some dogs with bells have been attacked by wolves.

A pack will use from 2 to 3 to as many as 6 or more rendezvous sites during the summer. The exact locations vary from year to year and throughout the summer. The sites are usually forest openings or edge areas, with lots of wolf tracks, droppings, and matted vegetation.

Bear hunters are urged to exercise greater caution if they plan to train hounds or hunt bear with hounds near the caution areas, especially if near the actual kill sites.

Anyone suspecting a wolf attack in northern Wisconsin should call USDA-WS immediately at 1-800-228-1368.

Cautions for Bear Hunters with Hounds:

• Learn from DNR web or local wildlife biologist locations of any possible wolf attacks on dogs in your hunting area


• Attempt to stay as close to dogs as possible


• Avoid releasing dogs at bear baits recently visited by wolves


• Avoid areas with high concentrations of wolf tracks, scats, and remains of wolf kills


• Learn to recognize your own dog tracks so that you can distinguish them from wolf tracks


• Use bells or beepers on dogs

Guidance for pet owners in wolf range near near forested areas:

• Do not leave pets outside overnight unless they have a sturdy kennel


• Avoid feeding deer near your home


• Don't leave cat or dogs food outside at night


• Don't deposit table scraps or animal products near home sites


• Keep pets on a leash or in visual/ auditory range on walks and vocalize regularly including use of whistles


• Don't allow dogs to roam at large


• Avoid releasing dogs outside for bathroom breaks after dark except in areas with good lighting or fenced

For more information on reducing conflicts between wolves and hunting dogs see "A Guide to Reducing Conflict Between Wolves and Hunting Dogs".

The following maps are established caution areas:

Shanagolden Pack- Ashland County Caution Area

On August 16th, a 9 year old male Plott hound was killed by wolves while bear hunt training on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The attack occurred in the Town of Shanagolden and represents the 3rd bear hound depredation by the Shanagolden Pack for the 2008 dog training season. The caution area has been expanded west to County Highway GG. Hunters are urged to be aware of the caution area shown on the map below and to minimize conflicts with wolves while training dogs within this site.

North Blue Hills- Barron County Caution Area

On August 11th, a 5 1/2 year old male Walker hound was killed by wolves while bear hunt training on Barron County Forest lands in the Town of Cedar Lake. Two wolves were detected in the North Blue Hills Pack last winter. Biologists suspect that pups were born this spring, which would make the pack very protective and aggressive toward other dogs when near their pups. Hunters are urged to be aware of the caution area shown on the map below and to minimize conflicts with wolves while training dogs within this site.

Bird Sanctuary- Douglas County Caution Area

On August 10th, an 8 year old female Walker hound was killed by wolves while bear hunt training on Douglas County Forest lands. This is the first 2008 depredation by the Bird Sanctuary Pack, which consisted of 4 wolves this past winter. Biologists are currently tracking a yearling male and adult female within the pack. Hunters are urged to be aware of the caution area shown on the map below and to minimize conflicts with wolves while training dogs within this site. The boundary consists of Roos Road, County M, and North Mail Route on the west, St. Croix River and County Y on the south, Highway 53 on the east, and County A on the north.

Shanagolden Pack- Ashland County Caution Area

On August 10, Wildlife Services verified that wolves from the Shanagolden Pack depredated a bear training hound. Killed was a 2 1/2 year-old female Plott hound. The depredation site was in the Town of Shanagolden on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Hunters who plan to train hounds should take note of the caution area map below and exercise caution while training hounds within the boundary. This is the 2nd depredation for the Shanagolden Pack this training season.

Hungry Run Pack - Ashland County Caution Area

On August 4, Wildlife Services verified that wolves from the Hungry Run pack depredated two bear training hounds. One dog was a 5 year old female Plott and the other a 3 1/2 year old English hound. The depredation site was in the Town of Chippewa on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Hunters who plan to train hounds should take note of the caution area map below and try to minimize conflicts with wolves. The caution area's northern boundary is contiguous with the caution area for the Shanagolden caution area where another bear hound was killed in July (see below).

Shoberg Lake Pack - Douglas County Caution Area

On August 2, wolves from the Shoberg Lake Pack attacked and killed a male Redtick hunting dog. The depredation site is located east of Solon Springs in the Town of Highland. The caution area is bounded by Highway 27 and County Y on the east, County Y on the south, St. Croix River and Upper St. Croix Lake and County P on the west, and the Brule River and County S to the north.

Crotte Creek Pack - Douglas County Caution Area

On July 27, wolves killed an 8-year old male Bluetick hunting dog while on county lands just north of Dairyland. Hunters should take note of the caution area map below and try to minimize conflicts with wolves. The caution area follows Hwy 35 on the west, Co. T and St. Croix River on the south; Mail Route on the east, and Co. M on the north. The pack consisted of 7 wolves last winter and probably produced pups this spring.

Shanagolden Pack - Ashland County Caution Area

On July 27, wolves from the Shanagolden Pack apparently attacked and killed a 5-year old redbone hound while bear dog training on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. This is the first depredation by this pack the year. The caution area follows FR347, Hwy 77, FR335, FR170, FR 168 on west; FR164 on south; Shanagolden Right of Way Road, Lutz Rd. & Hwy. 13 on the east; and FR181 & FR182 on the north. The pack consisted of 7-8 wolves last winter and probably again produced pups this spring.

Round Lake Pack - Sawyer County Caution Area

On July 25, wolves killed two bear dog hounds while training on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Wildlife Services verified that the Round Lake Pack was apparently responsible for the depredation on one 4-5 year old female walker and a 4-5 year old black and tan hound. This depredation represents the second bear dog attack by this pack and hunters are urged to take all necessary precautions while training in this area.

Casian Pack - Oneida County Caution Area

On July 12, wolves apparently attacked and killed a 6-year old Redbone hound and injured a 2-year old Walker hound. This is within an area of an unknown wolf pack northwest of Rhinelander (tentatively referred to as the Casian Pack). The caution area boundary is County K on the south, US Highway 51 on the west, County D on the north, and State Highway 47 on the east.

Round Lake Pack - Sawyer County Caution Area

On July 12, wolves apparently attacked and killed a 7-year old female Black and Tan bear training hound. This depredation is most likely due to the Round Lake pack, which consisted of a pair of wolves this past winter. With the current depredation, pups were probably produced this spring. The caution area boundary extends along Highway 77 and Forest Service roads 174 and 176 on rht north, County GG on the east, the East Branch Chippewa River and County BB on the south, and County A to the west. Hunters are urged to be cautious when training hounds within this area.

Morgan Lake Pack - Caution Area

On April 1, wolves apparently attacked and killed a Cocker Spaniel as it was running 100 yards ahead of its owner along a town road about 2 1/4 miles north of U.S. 8 near Armstrong Creek in Forest County, Wisconsin. The attack was apparently from the Morgan Lake wolf pack that consisted of 5 wolves during winter. This was the first time this pack has been known to attack a dog. The Caution Area covers portions of Forest and Florence County. It begins at junction of Highways 8 & 101 at Armstrong Creek, runs west along 8 to Highway 139 near Cavour, goes north along 139 to Long Lake, goes east of Long Lake along Halsey Lake Road (FR 2156) to Woods Creek, follows Woods Creek to Patten Lake Road, follows Patten Lake Road east to Highway 101, and follows 101 south to Highway 8. This represents the first wolf kill of a dog in Wisconsin in 2008. A dog was injured by wolves on March 7, 2008 near South Range in Douglas County. Dog owners are urged to use the map below to help reduce conflicts between dogs and wolves.

Wolves have been delisted from the federal Endangered Species List and are managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a protected species. Anyone who believes he or she may have wolf depredations can contact the United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services directly at 1-800-228-1368 in northern Wisconsin, or 1-800-433-0663 for central and southern Wisconsin.

Past Depredations: 2007 //2006 // 2005 // 2004 // 2003
Interactive map of wolf pack territories (exit DNR)