The wolf pack prowling the golf course these days has quickly become the talk of the town, and as seen previously even become a national story see here and here.
So for the benefit of those from away and not near a Daily News paper proprietor, here is the Daily’s coverage of the prowling wolf packs of Podunk. There is also a story below on the plans of the Conservation department regarding the ongoing wolf situation in Prince Rupert.
GOLFERS DRIVE WOLF PACK OFF THE FAIRWAY
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Pages One and Five
A lone wolf encounter is not an unusual thing for Rupert residents out walking near the golf course. A pack of eight, however, is another situation altogether.
“I had just finished having a conversation about wolves thinking ‘oh my god wouldn’t it be freaky‘ and it was so weird… we saw all their ears poking up,” said Sherry Hilborn of the pack of wolves that descended on her and three companions while out walking their dogs on Friday evening.
“They were spread out about six or seven feet wide up the whole stretch of the hillside.
“They had been stalking us, I was quite clear. They knew where to come in so our dogs did not get their scent – they were above us.”
Hillborn along with Shane Foreman, Dan and Crystal Lorette, were with three dogs walking on the cart path near Hole 6 of the golf course. The pack of hunting wolves came from another hole on a ridge above them.
“All at the same time, the ears moved forward and we saw their heads. They stopped again and watched us and we were trying to figure out our strategy,” she said. “Then all in sync, they moved forward further so we could see their entire bodies standing on the hill – all eight of them the same just like the military coming over the hill for attack.”
Hilborn and Crystal Lorette began screaming for help after hearing some golfers playing the hole behind them. The golfers, a group of four local teens, at first told the group that wolves were often seen in the area and not to worry about it while they continued to play on.
“Us two girls took two of the dogs on leashes and turned that corner to Number 5 still screaming for help,” said Hilborn. “Shane and Dan stayed where they were and were spreading out, trying to make themselves look big. The wolves still came towards them and they’re now yelling at us ‘hurry up, hurry up bring some clubs or something.”
“(The golfers) each grabbed a couple of clubs and the six of us came running back. Once we were eight adults and three dogs, the wolves took off.”
If not for the aid of the four young men, Hilborn said they have no doubt their dogs – an adult Labrador retriever named Lucy and two six month old Husky pups named Bandit and Sophie would have been attacked.
“There’s no doubt in my mind,” she said. “They had stalked us, they had made their move, spread out and they were circling us.”
Later that evening, a local lawyer and his golfing partner were also chased off the course by the wolves.
”The way he described it was quite neat, he said he looked behind him and there was five wolves lined up across the fairway and then one wolf out in front, like in the song The Leader of the Pack, said the Pro Shop’s Moe Hays. “And the wolves just kept coming – they kept walking and the wolves kept coming. They decided to drop their golf clubs and run, but the wolves picked up the pace.
Hays, who has been at the golf course since 1972, says that while the golf course has always been frequented by a couple of wolves this is the first time they’ve seen a pack.
“As far as I understand from talking to people, the wolves that are around .. what they’ve done is packed up,” he said.
“The lone wolf is not of any significance or anything to fear but when they’re in a pack that’s when they’re serious.”
According to Hilborn a number of people have called Conservation to report the incident but have received a luke warm response from the understaffed Terrace based agency that patrols a vast swath of land in the North.
“They’ve said there’s not much they can do,” she said. “Does somebody have to get attacked and ripped apart?”
CONSERVATION OFFICERS DRAWING UP A WOLF PLAN
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Monday, August 1, 2006
Page Five
A pack of wolves prowling the area of the golf course has raised concerns among wildlife officials across the region.
“That was the first we heard of a pack approaching people,” said Conservation Officer Chris Price about a series of incidents involving a large group of wolves from last Friday night.
“We certainly are aware there’s a pack of wolves on Kaien Island between the dump and the golf course, but not that they’ve approached people as a group.
“We need to see if this is a one-time occurrence or if there‘s a pattern of conditioning.”
The issue is a complicated one for Conservation to deal with because many options available to them when animals are in the wild are not available.
“Shooting them is one option, leg hold traps and snare are options, but those are all limited in urban areas because of the proximity of pets, people and children,” said Price.
“That makes it very difficult to employ those measures. If we were considering employing those measures, we’d have to do so very safely.
“We’re going to look at some of our options in terms of dealing with the situation as well as trying to get more information about the frequency of the wolves being seen and their behaviour when they are being seen. Once we’ve got a plan, we’ll address it in the best way that we can to ensure the safety of the public.”
Until a solution is found, Price recommends people keep their pets - a major attraction to a wolf – on a leash, consider carrying a walking stick with them and think about where they’re going to take a dog for a walk.
“The public does need to keep in mind they could encounter a wolf or more than one wolf it they are near the golf course, or along the trail at Butze Rapids or out by the landfill, “ he said.
“We’ve had situations in Prince Rupert where dogs have been attacked when walking with their owners, so the best way to keep a dog safe is to keep them .. under control at all times so the owner can remove the doge from the area if wolves are spotted.
“People should also consider.. walking in areas that are more open, so they can see they wolves and they can’t really approach.”
If people are approached by a wolf or a pack of wolves, Price said their approach to safety should be the same.
“You want to … back away from the area, don’t turn and run but certainly try to leave the area as expeditiously as possible.
“Watch the wolves to see what they’re doing while trying get somewhere safe,” he said.
“Try to make yourself look as big and intimidating as possible yelling and waving your arms will intimidate a wolf.”
He adds that wolves are extremely timid creatures and there is only one suspected fatality as a result of a wolf attack in North America’s history.
What makes them less timid is people feeding them – a criminal offence – or not running them off when they see them in urban areas, allowing them to become habituated.
“Some of the wolves we’re seeing around PR are certainly conditioned to people, they’ve lost their timid ness and they do approach people closely… but it doesn’t mean that they’re going to necessarily attack somebody,” said Price.
If people are approached by a wolf or wolves they should report it to 1-877-952-7277.
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