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The positions expressed reflect the views of
the authors or organizations cited and does not necessarily reflect
the views of the International Wolf Center.
Editor's note: The following is a letter
received by the International Wolf Center from an Ely, Minnesota
resident. We have changed or omitted names to keep the individuals
anonymous. To put this account in perspective, there are approximately
68,000 homes that have dogs in Minnesota's wolf range and an average
of less than 14 dogs are verified as being killed by wolves each
year, though others are likely killed and not reported. The following
account provides insight in to the emotions and sentiments of
one pet owner.
One of our sled dogs, [Tanya], was killed and eaten by wolves
about a month ago (early February 1998). We live in a remote area
30 miles south of Ely surrounded by Superior National Forest.
During the winter months the road to our cabin is unplowed and
we keep open by ski, snowshoe, and dog sled a four mile trail
to where we park our vehicles. We had a ten (now 9) dog sled team.
We use the dogs for transportation to and from our vehicles and
to haul in supplies. We also occasionally hire out our services.
[Tanya] was a three year old female. Her parents came from [a
local] kennel. She had been bred earlier in the winter and was
within a few weeks of delivering a litter of pups. When we left
home that morning, [Tanya] was too pregnant to run and pull in
the team, tho she could easily keep up running free directly behind
the sled. For most of the run that morning she stayed within 10
feet of the back of the sled. As we got within 1/4 mile of the
gravel road, where our vehicles were parked, the dog team suddenly
perked up and changed from their trot to a full run - something
they often do if they sense another animal nearby. I didn't think
much of it other than to hang on for a fast ride. [Tanya] couldn't
keep up. When we got to our vehicle a few minutes later [Tanya]
wasn't with us - nor did she catch up as we unloaded the sled.
I guessed, wrongly, that she'd gotten tired and turned back for
home. After I dropped... [my family] ...at the vehicle I continued
on home on another trail expecting to find [Tanya] at home when
I got there. She wasn't. Later that afternoon I skied the trail
we'd taken that morning. I found her. Dead and gutted, four puppies
scattered on the trail about where the dogs had sped up and she'd
dropped behind. Within 48 hours she and the pups were gone.
My feelings ran the gamut. If only I had not brought her - or
not allowed her to be separated from the team. But I did. I have
2 young pups who ran free behind the sled most of the winter without
coming to harm.
I wondered - did the wolves plan to separate the sled team from
her by letting the team "chase" them while other wolves picked
her off? Was she a threat because she was pregnant? New genes?
More mouths to feed?
One thing seemed obvious - the wolves were hungry. When I found
her she'd been dead only 4 - 5 hours. She was about 1/3 - 1/2
eaten. I could only count 4 pups. Last year her sister gave birth
to eight. Maybe the wolves had eaten some of them - maybe not.
As I'd said, within 48 hours everything was eaten.
I feel better knowing she fed wolves than if she'd been killed
by a vehicle on the highway. We live in the woods because we want
to surround ourselves as much as we can by nature. Wolves are
part of our neighborhood and our "property values" would decrease
if they left the neighborhood. I don't want to see them trapped,
or hunted, or killed because they acted like wolves - any more
than I'd want to see vehicles eliminated or roads closed if [Tanya]
had been run over by a truck.
P.S. I came in to town after I found [Tanya]. I was going back
home later that night. I wondered if I needed protection from
the wolves. Firearms - a handgun..? I came to the conclusion that
I'd be safer if I didn't have firearms - and so at midnight under
a bright moon as I skied past even less of [Tanya]'s body, I just
sang a little louder and skied a little faster and remembered
what an old woodsman had told me long long ago - "Some folks gets
the peanuts and some folks gets the shells but you got to suit
up for every game."
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