232244
Letters  

Predator sightings

I live on an acreage on Glenrosa, on the way to Crystal Mountain. Occasionally our dog warns us of some critter prowling around at night by growling, whining and running up and down the hall way, trying to wake us up. Sure enough the next day, during the winter months anyways, I generally find signs of some kind of wildlife tracks on the ground.

On December 11, and 20th of 2015, and then again on January 21st, 2016, I found, measured and photographed large canine tracks. The most unnerving were the tracks discovered on December 20th, by the back door on the deck. Our dog that night was particularly agitated and the most vocal. Last spring she also chased off a bear that was dangerously close to me on the property.

Due to that encounter I was probably even more uneasy about those canine tracks by the door. So much so, that I brought the photos to a hunting store and showed them to the staff there. The staff I spoke with were quite knowledgeable, helpful and were experienced hunter/trappers. I was asking for help when two young men over heard and approached me and offered to set up a wild life camera to see what exactly we were dealing with, and that the experienced young hunters would assist if was determined to be a wolf. These kind men did not know me from Adam, but were willing to lend me their expensive camera equipment and help out. A neighbour also lent us a wild life camera and both cameras were set up in different locations, but to no avail, as the mystery canid did not reappear again for over a month. In the meanwhile I had returned the cameras to their respective owners. The only thing out of the ordinary caught on film was a deer.

Nonetheless, having spoken with several hunters, residents, a conservation officer and bylaw enforcement officer, it was thought that the canid in question could very well have been a wolf. I took all the necessary measures and inquiries to make sure everything was within legal limits and for everyone's safety in mind, due to the location.

Personally, I am doubtful that it is a stray German shepherd type dog on the loose that occasionally shows up on our property. Having also compared the size of the tracks with that of coyotes, I discovered that the prints I photographed were larger than that of a coyote and are within the realms of that of a wolf. Just to be as analytical as possible I also photographed and measured my own dogs prints and hers were much smaller as well.

Last fall my horse had what appeared to be bite and claw marks on one of his back legs and he has been quite skittish since then. Had it been a wolf that attacked him, the horse would have been missing a chunk out of his leg, not merely a few superficial scratches. The culprit could have been a coyote or raccoon who knows.

In any event, I have a new respect and tremendous appreciation for hunters who were willing to help out a stranger. My hat is off to them. Wolf numbers in BC are on the rise and they are being seen in more and more populated areas and can be a danger to humans and pets alike. Michelle Prosser with Forest Management, near Merritt, found that out on October 31st 2013, when one of her dogs was fatally wounded while protecting her.

Being a wild life enthusiast myself, and all for conservation of wildlife, I now also see the necessity of keeping numbers in check and taking care of problem animals. I was at one time part of a highly publicized conservation group, albeit for another species of animal, other than the wolf. I do however love and appreciate all kinds of wild life including wolves. Nonetheless, a starving predator is a dangerous predator. The mystery stalking canid on my door step was likely an unhealthy animal that was looking for an easy meal, and it was probably trying to lure my dog outside. One can only speculate. I can only hope it does not return too often, or do any real damage to anything or anyone in the process.

Doreen Zyderveld-Hagel



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