Dog Depredations by Wolves in Wisconsin in 2003

Bear hunters training hounds may want to use caution when training in areas both northeast and northwest of Ladysmith because of wolf depredation on hounds, according to Adrian Wydeven, mammalian ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources.

A redbone hound has been confirmed as killed by wolves in an area to the northwest of Ladysmith, according to Wydeven. Earlier two hounds were killed by wolves when they apparently entered an area near wolf pups northeast of Ladysmith. In August, wolves depredated one more bear-hunting hound.

Map of second Wolf Avoidance Area, Ladysmith, Wisconsin.

Bear dog training is allowed in portions of northern Wisconsin from July 1 through August 30. The adult redbone hound was lost on Thursday and found dead on Saturday July 26. United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services has confirmed that a wolf killed the hound. The wolf is believed to be a member of the Blue Hills Pack, and three dog killings this year northeast of Ladysmith were apparently by the Haystack Corner Pack.

The recent attacks of wolves on hounds appear to be due to the presence of pups in the area, and wolves becoming aggressive with any animal getting too close to the pups. Wolf territories normally cover 20 to 100 square miles, but areas where pups are raised in summer usually covers only one to three square miles of the territory. These summer home sites or "rendezvous sites" are areas that hunters with hounds will most want to avoid in summer.

In recent years 8 to 17 hounds per year have been killed by wolves in hunting and training situations, but the three hounds listed above are the only losses of this kind so far for 2003. The DNR will continue to pay for partial reimbursement of losses to dogs caused by wolves, but control trapping by USDA-Wildlife Services will only occur if wolves cause depredation to domestic animals on private lands.

Download the detailed maps of these wolf pack territories:

• Blue Hills Pack Territory [PDF 1.5MB]
• Haystack Corner Pack Territory [PDF 1.5MB]