Wolf Depredation
6. Wolf-Killed Dogs
Predators kill predators of other species. Wolves kill the smaller coyote and they are known to kill cougars. They will even harass bears to grab the carcasses they are feeding on. So it is not surprising that wolves will kill dogs: guarding dogs, farmyard dogs and hunting dogs.
One dog employed for hunting in Idaho was reported to be on the trail of a cougar. But fresh tracks crossed the cougar's path and the dog swapped trails running after the fresh ones. Eventually the dog met a whole wolf pack and was terminated (Bangs et al 1998).
What about the dogs in Table 1 killed by wolves? There is information for Wisconsin (Willging et al 1999). Table 1 shows twenty-seven dogs were killed by wolves in Wisconsin from 1976 to 1998. A further nine were wounded. Of these 36 dogs:
- 28 were attacked by wolves while the dogs were being used or trained to hunt predators
- 4 were attacked while being used to hunt hares
- 2 were attacked when roaming wild land
- 2 were attacked near homesteads.
Interestingly, several of these dogs were attacked when they approached a wolf den, rendezvous site or a wolf kill. Wolves are also known to kill guarding dogs who aggressively engage with them when protecting livestock.
Explaining Wolf-Killed Dogs
It may be that wolves kill dogs because they see them as predators who might compete with them for food. Other times wolves might view dogs as interloping wolves on their territory, a threat to them or their cubs, to be dealt with in the same manner as they would any trespassing wolf.
What is clear is that the wolves in Wisconsin who attacked the dogs did not kill them gratuitously, for no reason other than simply to kill, for 'blood lust'. Dogs who stray from their owners in wolf territory may be attacked by wolves. But dogs under the control of their owners are not likely to be at risk - unless they encounter unusual circumstances.
© Wolf Trust 2004. All rights reserved.