Think there’s no reason to be afraid for your dog in the deep wilderness? Think again. Sometimes wolf and dog encounters end in a fun playing session, but more often when a wolf and dog meet on the wolf’s territory, the dog is seen as a threat. Wolves have been known to attack and kill their other wolves in a territorial spat, so there’s no reason to wonder if a wolf could do the same to your dog, too.
It’s important to note here that people are not seen as a threat to the wolf because of a difference in species. People are rarely attacked by wolves, and in the cases that they are, the people were the aggressors. Dogs and wolves are closely enough related that they can be considered equals in the wilderness. Read on to find out how to keep your dog safe from wolf attacks in the wilderness and at home.
When Hiking or Camping
1. Know the Signs That Wolves Are Around
When you are out in the wilderness with a dog, it’s helpful to know the signs of wolf scat and tracks so you can be the most prepared, or so you can know when to leave.
Wolf droppings (also called scat) are 1–1½ inches around with tapered ends. You will be able to see hair and bones in it from deer or elk. Sometimes, when a wolf has just killed and eaten something recently, the scat will be looser and have tar-like consistency. Keep in mind that coyote scat is a little smaller than wolf scat.
Because wolves’ paws are bigger, their tracks will look like dog tracks but larger, about 4 inches wide by 4-5 inches long with claw marks. You might notice your dogs’ tracks wander in inconsistent lines, but a wolf’s tracks stay in straight lines. The pawprints will be about 30 inches apart within the tracks.
2. Keep Your Dog on a Leash, or Bring a Leash
Dogs that are allowed to wander around in the forest are more likely to run into a wolf or bear than if they stay right by their owner. After this encounter happens, the dog might retreat to you, putting you in danger, too. The best way to keep your dog by you is with a leash. There are many dog leashes available, here are some of the best ones you can get. If you’re confident your dog is well-trained enough to stay by your side, this is fine too.
3. Make Your Dog’s Collar Noisy
It may help to put a bell on your dog’s collar or otherwise make it noisy. This lets any wolves around know that the nearby dog is associated with humans, and wolves do not prefer to be around people.
4. Keep Your Dog in Your Tent at Night
If you’re camping, keep your dog inside the tent with you when you turn in for the night. In the case that this is impossible, make sure your dog is as closely located to you as possible.
5. Make Sure All Food and Garbage is Sealed and Out of Reach
For experienced backpackers, this is common knowledge to prevent bear encounters, but it also helps keep wolves away: don’t be messy with your food or garbage (or even chewing gum). Keep all food and garbage contained inside a bag after you set up camp. Before you go to sleep for the night, take that bag and tie it up high in a tree or large rock, out of reach from bears and wolves. This can be done by flinging a long rope or string up around a branch, then pulling up with the other end and securing it on a heavy rock.
For additional safety, keep your cooking and eating area away from your sleeping area, in case of food spills on the ground on accident.
6. If Your Dog is Attacked, Carry Bear Spray
How do you stop a wolf while it’s attacking or pursuing your dog? You will have to prepare ahead of time by bringing bear spray (which, of course, helps stop bears, too). Bear spray is similar to pepper spray, it contains a highly concentrated amount of pepper or capsaicin compounds. Spraying bear spray at the attack will put a stop to it. Even though your dog will need some time to recover from it, the spray is not deadly, and you may have just saved your dog’s life if you stopped a wolf or bear from attacking your dog.
When You Live Near Wolves
1. Keep Dogs Inside or Kenneled
When you live in wolf country and nightfall comes, bring your dog (or dogs) inside the house for safety. If they have to be outside, make a secure structure around them, like a tall fence, or kennel them up.
2. Put a Strong Fence Around Your Yard
Wolves will commonly come out at night, but sometimes they are active during the day. If you want to add extra security, you can put a secure fence around your yard to keep your dog in, as well as keep unwanted wild animals out.
3. Install Motion Detector Lights
Wolves are skittish creatures, so any sudden change in light is likely to scare them off. This can be done easily by installing a motion detector light around your house. A good place is right outside your front door or garage door, otherwise, you can install one in the perimeter of your yard.
4. Keep Noisemakers by the Door
If you see signs of a wolf or coyote by your house, making a lot of noise is sure to scare them off. Any noisy thing will do: a tambourine, loud bells, or a “clapper.” This is a children’s toy that has hands-on it that, when shaken, makes loud clapping noises.
5. Don’t Leave Any Food Out
Wolves may sometimes be attracted to your residence if you leave food out, especially meat scraps. Prevent this from happening by disposing of all food in sturdy trash bins and keeping all food, dog or people food, in tightly secured bins when stored outside.
Not only does this prevent wolves or coyotes from coming by, but it also keeps the game that they hunt from hanging around, too.
6. Spay or Neuter Your Dog
Sometimes wolves will sense that your dog is in heat or vice versa, and pursue them as a mate (after all, dogs can breed with wolves). This is pretty rare. To prevent this unlikely event from happening, you will need to spay your female dog or neuter your male dog.
7. Report Wolf Incidents
Your local municipality will likely want to know if there’s been a wolf encounter in the area. If you have had a run-in with a wolf, contact your local forest service agency or the USDA Wildlife Services at 866-487-3297.
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Featured Image Credit: furry_portraits, Pixabay
Contents
- When Hiking or Camping
- 1. Know the Signs That Wolves Are Around
- 2. Keep Your Dog on a Leash, or Bring a Leash
- 3. Make Your Dog’s Collar Noisy
- 4. Keep Your Dog in Your Tent at Night
- 5. Make Sure All Food and Garbage is Sealed and Out of Reach
- 6. If Your Dog is Attacked, Carry Bear Spray
- When You Live Near Wolves
