Ilpo Kojola, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Oulu Game and Fisheries Research, Tutkijantie 2 A, FIN-90570 Oulu, Finland; Juha Kuittinen, Game Management District of North Karelia, Teollisuuskatu 15 A, FIN-80100 Joensuu, Finland

One of the most difficult problems in Finnish wolf management are wolf attacks on dogs. Wolves attack dogs both in forest during hunting and in the houseyards within remote villages. Herein we analyze 50 cases of wolf attacks taken place in eastern Finland 1996-1999 for the expected difference between lone wolves and packs (2 or more wolves). Because lone wolves probably are faced with most difficulties in catching ungulate prey, they may more often than packs take a risk associated with intruding into houseyards. Lone wolves attacked dogs more often in the houseyards while packs attacked more often during hunting. One motivation of packs could be the elimination of a competitor for food, but if not disturbed, they usually ate the dog.