Dog Depredations by Wolves in Wisconsin in 2005

During the 2005 bear dog training season nine dogs being trained to hunt bear were killed by wolves and two were injured. The bear hunting dog training season occurs during a time when wolves have their pups in rendezvous areas and are especially protective of their territory.

The 2005 hunting season for bear hunters using dogs started Sept. 7 and USDA - Wildlife Services verified that a dog was killed Sept. 7 in an area where three other dogs had been killed by wolves during the training season.

Based on incidents reported during the 2005 bear hunting dog training season five areas have been identified as areas of caution where depredations have occurred in specific pack areas. Since the current depredations are fairly intense the Department of Natural Resources is recommending that bear hunters totally avoid the areas where these depredations have occurred.

The following maps are established caution areas:

Lincoln County Dog Depredations

The first dog injured this year was a Walker hound injured in an incident July 9 in Lincoln County northeast of Goodrich.

The Lincoln County area (map below) is an area northeast of Goodrich in Lincoln County bounded on the north by Conservation Avenue, on the east by County E and County M, on the south by State Highway 64 and on the west by the Taylor, Lincoln County Line.

Map of Wolf Avoidance Area in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Sawyer/Rusk County Dog Depredations

The second incident occurred in Sawyer County in an area south of Winter encompassing part of the Flambeau State Forest and Silvernail Wildlife Area. An English hunting dog was killed there on July 19. Subsequently wolves killed a Plott Hound on July 23, another Plott hound on July 28 and another hound on Sept. 7.

An area south of Winter (map below) includes parts of Sawyer and Rusk Counties bounded on the north by County Road W, on the east by County Road M, on the south by County Road B and on the west by Old Highway J.

Map of Wolf Avoidance Area in Sawyer/Rusk County, Wisconsin

Price County Dog Depredations

One depredation, a Walker hound, occurred on August 12.

An area in Price County northeast of Catawba (map below) is bounded on the north by State Road 111, on the east by State Road 13, on the south by US Highway 8 and on the west by State Road 111.

Map of Wolf Avoidance Area in Price County, Wisconsin.

Taylor/Rusk/Price County Dog Depredations

Three hounds were killed and one injured during the dog training season in an area south of Hawkins. One Plott hound was killed in Rusk County on July 30. One hound was killed and a Walker hound was killed on August 21st in Taylor County. Two bluetick hounds were killed in Price County on August 28.

An area south of Hawkins, in including parts of Price, Rusk and Taylor counties, (map below) is bounded on the north by Nessa Road, County Highway M, and Little Jump Road, on the east by County Road N, on the south by County Road D and on the west by State Highway 73.

Map of Wolf Avoidance Area in Taylor/Rusk/Price, Wisconsin.

Douglas County Dog Depredations

One Walker hound was killed during training season in Douglas County while being trained on August 27.

An area west of Gordon and Solon Springs is bounded on the west by Crotte Creek, and Jackson Box Road, on the north by County Road A, on the east by U.S. 53 and on the south by County Road Y and Crotte Brook Road..

Map of Wolf Avoidance Area in Douglas County, Wisconsin.

For information on reducing conflicts between wolves and hunting dogs see "A Guide to Reducing Conflict Between Wolves and Hunting Dogs". All of the dogs were involved in bear dog training when the depredations occurred. None were wearing bells.

The DNR counted 425 to 455 wolves in Wisconsin in late winter 2005, and detected 108 packs in the state.

Past Depredations: 2004 // 2003
Map of wolf pack territories with depredating packs highlighted
Interactive map of wolf pack territories (exit DNR)