By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Wildlife authorities in Wisconsin are continuing to investigate a weekend incident in which a 19-year-old waterfowl hunter reportedly shot and killed a wolf near St. Germain as the animal and at least one other apparently were closing in on him and two younger companions.
According to WJFW News, hunter Chase Melton of Sugar Camp in northern Wisconsin found himself and his companions surrounded. A witness reportedly estimated there were at least five wolves in the pack, including the one Melton shot and another one that approached to within about five yards. The witness also reportedly said at least four more wolves were “in the area.”
While wolf attacks are rare, they are not unheard of. Idaho resident Rene Anderson shot and killed a charging wolf back in 2011 while she was hunting elk during the September archery season, using a .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver.
A teacher in Alaska was killed by a wolf pack in March 2010 near Chignik Lake. It took authorities there more than a year to determine officially two wolves killed Candice Berner as she was jogging about two miles from her home out on the Alaska Peninsula.
In November 2005, a third-year university student identified as 22-year-old Kenton Carnegie was killed while he was walking near the Points North Landing mining camp in northeastern Saskatchewan.
What makes the Wisconsin case interesting is that Saturday’s incident occurred on the opening day of hunting season, and the intended victims were armed. Melton reportedly shot the approaching wolf with 12-gauge shotgun at close range using non-toxic shot.
According to The MeatEater blog, there are an estimated 1,000 wolves in Wisconsin, the majority of which are in the northern third of the state, where the incident occurred.
The other nearby wolf ran into some nearby woods, according to the WJFW report, then returned and began dragging away its companion by the neck. Melton immediately notified Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources authorities.
Wildlife agencies are usually quick to tell the public that attacks on humans by apex predators, including wolves, mountain lions and bears, are rare events. Nevertheless, to the individuals involved, such encounters are nerve shattering when not injurious or fatal.
A call to a Wisconsin DNR information officer was not immediately returned.
Wolves are protected species in most states, but they can be killed in self-defense. According to a Wisconsin DNR bulletin, at least 20 hunting dogs have been killed this year in Wisconsin by wolves, mostly over the past three months.
Wolf reintroduction across the northern tier states has become a volatile subject over the past several years. Wildlife and natural resources agencies are often caught in the middle of a culture war between outdoorsmen and women, ranchers and farmers with livestock on one side, and wolf advocates on the other.
