Hi Yes its been a bit slow here as of late; We have made some changes to the web site, we had some problems and the site went down for a week. I’m glad we are back up and I hope you enjoy the new layout and color.
As for the Kaien Island wolf pack, They have been staying mostly out of town, Only a few times they have been spotted. I have reports of wolves being seen out at the Riddly Island log sort. Other then that the wolves seem to be in good shape, pack numbers about the same as previous year. 7 to 8 individuals.
Residents of Prince Rupert, B.C., are getting nervous about the number of wolves turning up around town.
In less than a year, there have been 136 wolf sightings reported by the residents of the isolated coastal community.
I have been lucky enough to track and film the pack of wolves that live near Prince Rupert, BC over the last 3 years. We have shared many encounters with these magnificent animals. I have too say that I never felt threatened by the wolves. When you are in the animals domain you need to understand the animal you are tracking and give them the area to roam around and check you out before getting close to a wild animal. Most of the encounters we have had were in a 5 mile radius of the den site.
So a few weeks ago I was lucky to watch two wolves crossing a frozen lake. For the last 4 years I have been waiting to take a photo of a coastal wolf in the snow, I finally got my chance. this guy watched for a few min before running across the frozen lake into the bush, the other wolf was waiting for traffic to slow down before he headed out across the frozen ice.
This video shot by a local; Miguel Borges,
It was taken this morning.
As you can see in the video the wolf is not very concern with the traffic and people. Some of the wolves found on the island have become conditioned to humans and others have been habituated to humans by individuals in the community who have taken it upon themselves to feed them. Those people who feed wild wolves are not doing that animal a favor they are most certainly going to be the cause of that animal (wolf) demise.
As I said a few weeks ago we would start to see wolves around town and sure enough they are around. A wolf was in our yard Monday morning and it also went after the next door neighbor’s dog, he had to get a few stitches to his behind. This morning you could hear them howling around the seaplane base.
So watch your pets, don’t leave them out over night. don’t leave food out or garbage.
Every year In Aug the pack of wolves start to come in to town more often, I have already received reports of wolves been spotted in and around the town. The wolves have been staying close to the den site since the pups were born back in March, April.
The Pups are big enough to travel with the pack, and the Pack will be introducing the new members to the area.
There have been a few wolves killed over the last 6 months in and around Port Ed. Stacey and Myself have not had the time to track and photograph the wild coast wolf, but we are hoping next year we will have a boat and will be looking at the other packs that live in the area.
I have heard a few times people spotting a black wolf in and around Prince Rupert, BC he has been seen mostly around Butsy rapids lately with a 2 other wolves from the Kaien Island pack. from the descriptions given he may have taken over the alpha spot. Last spring and summer a Black wolf spotted out at Kloya bay and this wolf could be the same one?
This Past weekend I spent some time around town looking for any signs that the wolves were on this side of the mountain. I never found tracks or scat, its about time that the female Alpha will be looking for a Den site. I have an idea were it might be at and will check it out this weekend.
Other then that I have heard some stories of wolves on the outskirts of town and photographed deer remains near Ominica a hot spot for sightings, a few months ago. the rib cage looked small and was most likely a doe.
I also met an individual who is working with University of Alberta and the university of Mexico and gave him some photos of the local wolves and some hair that will be genetically analyzed.
As reported in the Albanian press: A wolf was caught in the mountains and was put in a cage in the village of Patok in Lezhe, about 4 months ago.
They put a donkey in the cage, for the wolf to eat. Apparently, the lonely wolf, was more hungry for friendship. Since then they got attached to each-other, cohabitating the cage and teaching the people some humanity. If only our politicians, would ever learn to co-habit with each-other!And here’s how humans project their own feelings, on these animals:
A donkey grazing in a small meadow saw a wolf creep up on him, and at once pretended to be lame. The wolf, coming nearer, asked why he was limping. The donkey said that he had passed through a hedge where he had trod with his foot on a sharp thorn. He advised that the wolf pull it out, so that it would not harm his throat when he ate him. The wolf agreed and lifted up the foot, and concentrated on the hoof. Then the donkey kicked his teeth into his mouth and galloped away. Fearfully mauled, the wolf said: “I deserved what I got. Why did I attempt the art of healing, when my father only taught me the trade of a butcher?”
This is the Letter I sent into the Daily News regarding hunting wolves and deer on the island.
Letter to the editor.
I would like to address some concerns to the people in Prince Rupert; I’m a first nation’s woman from the Tsimshian nation and my people have been here for more then 5000 years.
The Tsimshian people have a connection to the island and its animals. The four crests are the Raven, Eagle, Killerwhale and the Wolf; I’m from the Raven clan.
The Tsimshian have lived side by side with their wolf brothers since the begging of time. Wolves live in social groups called packs and are guided by a hierarchy system, much like our own ancestors lived. Many other first nations groups have modeled their family and society structures from the viewing of wolves and their social behaviour; we have learned lots from them and have even created dances, stories and art pieces by their inspiration.
Miss Barbara Green would be wrong to say that the deer were here before the coastal wolf, one can not live without the other and coastal wolves have been on the B.C. coast far longer then she thinks and on this island before European’s arrived. A new documentary is about to be released called “secrets of the coastal wolf” the coastal wolf is genetically different then the grey wolf, and could be much older. This species of wolf are only found on the coast of B.C.
Miss Barbra Green it’s also against the law to feed wild animals even the deer, there are hefty fines for those individuals who think throwing apples and carrots to deer is all right; you are part of the problem and not part of the solution if your feeding wild animals.
From my understanding the people need to be aware that wild animals are going to be part of our lives, so it’s up to each of Prince Rupert residents to educate themselves about the animals that live near us.
Lori Wright, in your letter you suggested that if the deer were all culled that the wolves would go after pets and children. Where is your proof that would happen? One only needs to look at Digby island to find the answers or any other small island on the coast; when food becomes scarce for the wolves they swim to the next island for deer. And as a matter of fact what makes the coastal wolf so unique is its adaptability to its surroundings. Coastal wolves have been found on the furthest islands, miles from the mainland surviving on a seafood diet. Lori and I quote you “Let the archery club practice their skills on wolves. I do not like to see any-thing killed; I am a great lover of all animals”. Except wolves I guess.
Bow-hunting still requires you to have a valid BC hunting Licence and Tags its not going to be a free for all. More animals will die a slow and painful death. I for one do not want to see a deer or wolf with an arrow sticking out of them and running through the streets of Rupert, or worse a human who was mistakenly hit by an arrow.
There is no doubt a few wolves and coyotes have adapted to human behaviour and the garbage that is left around. These animals need to be dealt with quickly before the rest of the pack is persecuted.
In closing either your part of the problem or the solution, you can’t sit on the fence feeding the deer hoping that the wolves will leave. It’s time to educate yourself with facts.
As reported in the Albanian press: A wolf was caught in the mountains and was put in a cage in the village of Patok in Lezhe, about 4 months ago.
