First gray wolf legally shot, killed near Park Falls
Landowner took action after dog was chased
By Kevin Naze
Press-Gazette correspondent
The first gray wolf legally shot by a Wisconsin landowner in 50 years was killed with a small-caliber rifle Wednesday west of Park Falls in Price County.
Adrian Wydeven, a Department of Natural Resources wolf ecologist based in Park Falls, said a farmer's border collie was chasing deer off a field when what turned out to be an adult female wolf began to go after the dog.
The farmer said the animals were about 350 yards away at first. By the time he ran for his .222 rifle and returned, the collie was heading back toward the buildings, weaving and darting as the wolf pursued.
"Apparently the wolf stopped momentarily just before he shot it, at about 50 yards," Wydeven said.
Wolves in the western Great Lakes were delisted from the federal endangered and threatened species list March 12. The Price County wolf was the first legally killed by a Wisconsin property owner since wolves earned state protection in 1957.
Two other wolves were trapped and killed recently by federal officials on a farm west of Mason in Bayfield County. Depredations typically increase in spring, when many young stock are born.
While landowners or leaseholders are able to shoot wolves in the act of attacking livestock or pets, hunters and others afield have the right to defend themselves only if they felt an attack was imminent — something that has never happened in Wisconsin and is rare anywhere wolves are found.
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