A lone timber wolf that’s been prowling the woods of central Wisconsin has mauled a dog, befriended other canines and recently stared down a frightened farmer.
And that’s only part of the story about the big, bad wolf that has caused an international brouhaha that has run all the way to Colorado.
“I think everyone here has been surprised with the level of attention this one wolf has received,” said Adrian Wydeven, a biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
A wolf sanctuary in Laporte is spearheading an international campaign to bring the wolf to Colorado to spare it from being shot.
Wisconsin wildlife officials, politicians and media outlets report receiving hundreds of e-mails and letters, including some from Belgium and the Philippines.
“I think it’s a pretty black and white issue for people who are sensitive to animals,” said Frank Wendland, the sanctuary’s co-founder. “This animal should not have to pay the ultimate price.”
The wolf was first spotted in March, prowling several farms near the Wisconsin Dells in central Wisconsin.
One family reported that the wolf attempted to engage their dogs in play, while another said it attacked their dog, which needed 30 stitches. It also injured a calf.
While sightings are not unusual in a state that has more than 400 wolves roaming wild, the behavior of the animal suggested that it was either a wolf-dog hybrid or raised in captivity.
Because of concerns about the wolf’s apparent lack of fear around humans, wildlife officials discussed shooting it, as state rules allow.
The lethal proposal raised the hackles of animal lovers across the country.
One Madison television station conducted a poll, asking viewers what should be done with the wolf (74 percent, or 1,072 voters, didn’t want it shot).
Enter Wolves Offered Life & Friendship.
Wendland, the sanctuary’s owner, offered to trap and transport the wolf to northern Colorado, where it would live with 27 other wolves and wolf-hybrids.
But Wisconsin wildlife officials rebuffed Wendland’s offer, saying they had questions about the sanctuary’s liability insurance.
They also insist there may be a simpler option.
If the wolf can be trapped, Wydeven said, the department is considering taking it to a Minnesota facility.
If it can’t be trapped, wildlife officials aren’t ruling out lethal measures.
“Our primary concern is to protect the human landscape,” Wydeven said. “We certainly are sensitive to the public’s concern, but safety is the first priority.”
Meanwhile, Wendland said the sanctuary is considering retaining an attorney to help bring the wolf to Colorado.
He says his facility – which has $2 million in liability insurance – is one of the few in the nation with the proper accreditation and resources to care for the wolf.
LaVern Davis, a Wisconsin Dells dairy farmer, has seen the wolf prowling around his farm several times. Still, he’s not saying what he hopes will happen to the animal, other than that he’s grown weary of being asked.
“From the time it was sighted, this whole thing has been blown way out of proportion,” Davis said “We’re pretty tired of it all.”
Staff writer Kim McGuire can be reached at 303-820-1240 or kmcguire@denverpost.com.
