Wolf Encounters in the Upper Midwest

Recent reports from Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources unveiled an incident where wolves fatally attacked a trailing dog in northern Wisconsin earlier this month. Although wolf attacks rarely grab headlines, instances of close encounters with aggressive wolves in the Upper Midwest seem to be on the rise.

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, five seasoned outdoorsmen have encountered aggressive wolf behavior at different times. Among them, three were compelled to seek refuge by climbing trees to avoid potential attacks. One individual expressed intentions to carry a handgun for self-defense after facing such an encounter.

These incidents occurred under diverse circumstances. For instance, two men were training bear dogs, a scenario where wolf attacks sometimes occur when dogs stray too far in pursuit of bear trails. In separate instances, two other individuals stumbled upon wolf packs congregating around fresh deer kills. The fifth story involves Jim Paquette, who, while exploring a dry lakebed for Indigenous artifacts, witnessed a wolf chasing a deer. When the wolf noticed Paquette’s presence, it redirected its focus towards him.

All five outdoorsmen shared a common observation: wolves in the Upper Peninsula, despite surpassing recovery numbers and not being a hunted species, appear to lack fear toward humans. Although these encounters spanned several years, their relevance persists for hunters venturing into wolf-inhabited regions today.