Reports of several close calls and rumors of at least two more wolf attacks in the last week have had Grand Marais pet owners on edge. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Darin Fagerman confirmed those attacks, but added that he hopes the problem is over with the trapping and killing of an apparent problem wolf on Saturday, September 6.
A dog was injured at the County Road 6 home of Kathy and Gary Siesennop. At about 5:20 a.m. on Friday, September 5, Kathy Siesennop let their golden retriever, Ripper, outside. Moments later, she heard the dog yelping and crying as he ran back onto the deck. Examining the retriever, the Siesennops found that he had a puncture wound on his back haunch and his leg was bleeding in two spots.
“He was a lucky dog,” said Gary Siesennop, “he got away.”
The Williams family on Fall River Road (County Road 13), about three miles from Siesennops, were not as lucky. Their Scottish terrier, Captain Jack, was killed by a wolf.
David Williams witnessed the attack. He was doing some chores on the family’s farm at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, riding his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to an outbuilding near his barn when he heard a scream from his Labrador, Buck. He looked up to see a wolf within 150-200 feet from him in pursuit of the lab, which “flew by me.” Unfortunately the Scottie was not fearless and it ran toward the wolf. “Jack wanted to protect his buddy,” said Williams.
Williams took after the wolf on the ATV and chased it off. He and his son-in-law walked the property and found Jack’s body. The wolf apparently dropped the little dog when it was being chased.
The surviving dog, Buck, was shaking uncontrollably and has been visibly upset since being in such close proximity to the wolf and at losing his companion.
Williams said he would like to believe the wolf trapped and killed in Grand Marais is the one that killed his dog, but he is doubtful. He said the wolf he saw was much bigger and the coloring seemed different than the photos he has seen of the one killed in Grand Marais.
Conservation Officer Fagerman confirmed that a trap was set on the east side of Grand Marais last week. Cook County Law Enforcement received a call at 5:52 a.m. on Saturday from a resident on Humphrey Circle, about three miles from Williams’ farm, reporting that there was a lot of howling in the area of the trap near his house. Fagerman said the trapped wolf was a female, about a year old.
CO Fagerman shot the wolf, a part of his job he does not enjoy, he said. However, he added, “In the long run it’s better to get rid of the problem ones. People are more accepting of wolves if they are not killing their pets.”
The trap was removed and the deceased wolf will be sent to a DNR wildlife biologist for evaluation.
Fagerman said he has not received any reports of wolf attacks since the wolf was trapped and killed in Grand Marais. A dog reported missing on Pike Lake Road in Grand Marais that evening had returned home safely, he said.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom 218-370-0244
Darin Fagerman 218-387-9751
Mary Manning 218-475-0121
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