Wolf photos courtesy of David Johnson

Exclusive to Boreal Community Media - February 3, 2019

Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf?  Many children’s storybooks have portrayed wolves as dangerous prey, leading many to live in fear of an unexpected encounter with one of them.  Living here in Cook County, it seems like everyone knows a story of a friend, neighbor, or community member who has had a pet taken by wolves.  Boreal staff member Lisa Bauer met with local Conservation Officer, Darin Fagerman, to learn more about keeping our beloved pets safe from being harmed by wolves.

Fact or fiction?  Are they as dangerous as they are portrayed to be?

According to Darin, the best advice for a pet owner is to “be vigilant, but don’t be paranoid” when it comes to keeping your dog safe.   Darin suggested practicing the following tips to keep your four legged pets safe:

• Be aware of your surroundings as a pet owner.
• Don’t leave your pet unattended outside - stay outside with them.  This rule applies year round.  Look outside first to ensure the yard is safe before going out.
• Keep your dog on a leash when walking (or at least have a leash with you) to prevent them from chasing a wolf into the woods (wolves sometimes act playful with dogs to lure them into the woods).
• Do not leave food outside (wolves can even try to eat suet balls or sunflower seeds out of bird feeders).

If you find yourself in a close encounter with wolves, try to get out of there.  Holler at them to get them to go away.  Most of all, remember that they may be simply curious rather than a threat.

Darrin shared a photo of tracks from a pack of 7 wolves