Appendix G: Wolf-Dog Hybrid Cases In Wisconsin

by Adrian P. Wydeven, Randy L. Jurewicz and Ronald N. Schultz

Twenty-one cases of free-roaming wolf-dog hybrid incidents involving Wisconsin DNR or USDA-WS occurred between July 1989 and 1998 (Figure G1 and Table G1).

Table G1 Free-roaming wolf-dog hybrid incidents/complaints in Wisconsin - July 1989 to December 1998
Date(s)	Year	Location	County	No.Sex/Age	Problems	Outcome
July-Aug	1989	Spooner,	Washburn	2A/1Y/7P	Killed 10 sheep, mauled 5 sheep	AM, AF and PM shot by landowner
August	1991	Stone Lake,	Washburn	1AM+1AF	Attacked dogs spilled garbage	Killed by sheriff's deputy
June	1992	Cable,	Bayfield	AF+2P	scavanging garbage	pups in APHIS trap killed by local person
Sept.	1992	Phillips,	Price	AF	close approach to people and pets	live captured by APHIS held by DNR cooperator
Feb. 14	1994	Clam Lake,	Sawyer	AF	found shot started investigation	dog food in stomach shooter not found
Mar.	1994	Drummond,	Bayfield	1AM/2YM	frightened people; stole pet food, challenged dogs	live capture DNR & APHIS placed on game farm
Apr.	1995	Brantwood,	Price	YM	visiting farm area concerned farmer	live capture by DNR placed on game farm.
May 5	1995	Chippewa Falls,	Chippewa	AM	road kill, started DNR investigation	necropsied. carcass to UW-Madison
Aug-Nov	1995	Minong,	Washburn	Unk. A	approached vehicle on road ate scraps	Observed for 4 months then disappeared
Feb-Mar	1995	Grantsburg,	Burnett	3PF	attacked dogs challenged person	two live captured, taken to Wildlife Sci. Center, MN; 1 shot#256
June 7	1996	Rhinelander,	Oneida	AF+1P	bit child	AF shot, tested for rabies, negative; pup given to hybrid owner
May 3	1997	Webb Lake,	Burnett	2A/1P	threatened people attacked warden	All 3 shot by DNR warden
May	1997	Danbury,	Burnett	AM	21 calves lost on farm? wolves?	recaptured by owner
Feb	1998	Winter,	Sawyer	AF	bred with dog, close approach to people	Shot by DNR biologist.
Apr 20	1998	Monico	Oneida	AM&AF	Attacked German Shepard in back yard	Captured by Owner after USDA-WS investigation
Aug 13	1998	Tomahawk	Lincoln	3A	Attacked black labrador in back yard	Attempted capture by DNR/USDA-WS but disappeared
Aug 26	1998	Monico	Oneida	YF	Roadkill - started DNR investigation	Necropsied, carcass to UW-Madison
Sept 10 - Nov 3	1998	Beaver Dam	Dodge	AF	Roamed farm area after escape	Captured by owner
Oct 8	1998	Tripoli	Lincoln	AM	Possible hybrid, roadkill, started DNR investigation	necropsied, carcass to UW-Madison, investigation ongoing
Oct 25	1998	Big Falls	Waupaca	2A	Attacked black labrador	DNR/USDA-WS investigated

These cases involved 44 different animals, including 14 wolf-dog hybrids that were shot, 3 accidentally killed (vehicle collisions), 12 live-captured and placed in captivity, and 9 disappeared or remained in the wild.

Livestock were verified killed/attacked by one group of hybrids in 1989, and possible depredation by a wolf-dog hybrid occurred in 1997. A wolf-dog hybrid was known to be free-roaming on a farm that had 9 calves killed and 21 missing. Although some calves were verified as probably killed by wolves, the presence of the wolf-dog hybrid complicated investigation/verification of losses.

Wolf-dog hybrids challenged or attacked dogs or humans in 8 cases, including 1 case of a hybrid biting a child. In at least two cases, female wolf-dog hybrids apparently bred with dogs, and one produced a pup in captivity.

Although most wolf-dog hybrids did not cause serious problems, the lack of fear of people and their pets posed real concerns. Agency dealings with wolf-dog hybrids consumed time and expense that could have been spent on wolf conservation.

Calls and reports of wolf-like animals initiated investigations by WDNR or USDA-WS and sometime involved lengthy attempts at live-capturing.

Because of concerns for protecting wild wolves, control actions have been applied very carefully. Once wolf populations are more secure, more liberal controls can be applied toward wolf-like animals that lack fear of people and occur in residential and farmland areas.

Next Section: Public Attitudes Toward Wolves in Wisconsin

Last Revised: May 12, 2006