Just got back from a week of fishing on Basswood Lake. We camped on Washington Island, on the west end closest to Half Dog and there was quite a bit of wolf activity. Wolves started howling in fairly close proximity about 1 PM the first day and howled off and on all afternoon in broad daylight.

About 9 PM they really started howling and kept it up all night, sometimes within about 15 yards of our hammocks. At 0100 on the first night they tried to take down a bull moose in shallow water in front of the site. There was considerable splashing and sounds of battle. Evidently the moose won because it splashed down the shore and off into the brush. It sounded like a couple wolves got hurt pretty bad during this incident.

The next morning a wolf sauntered through our camp with no apparent concern that we were in residence. There was old and recent wolf "scat" all over the place and it appeared to me that only about half of it contained animal hair. So, it doesn't look like they are having much success with the usual prey.

During the next five nights howling continued very close, and on night #3 they ran off with a bottle of soap. Everything else was locked up in a Yeti cooler but I didn't think they would go after soap. There certainly weren't any bears around.

Although none of these wolves presented any belligerent behavior I don't recommend camping on Washington Island for the time being. There is a big pack which is getting hungry to the point of stealing soap. Since neither man nor beast can think clearly when starving, there may be a developing hazard at this location until the wolf population undergoes some type of correction.

WOW!!

What a great experience you had. If they "drank" that bottle of soap, I'll bet there will be a lot more wolf scat....

cliff355 - That must have been both an exhilarating and disturbing experience! I wouldn't have slept very well after that! Thanks for sharing.

I had a dog that would eat a bar of Dial soap on occasion. It caused major diarrhea for her soon afterwards.

I'm planning on going up Oct 1st. I look forward to hearing the wolves, not looking forward to having them in camp. How was the fishing?

PICTURES???

Here is a shot of the "Wolf Taco" I was hanging in. Couldn't get any pics of the wolves because they stayed at least 15 yards out in the brush and my camera doesn't have much of a flash.

What I really needed was a tape recorder because that Wolf v. Moose conflict was very loud and not something you hear every day.

Fishing was pretty typical for September. We caught a few bass, walleyes and northerns - juat enough to keep things interesting.

It seems like Washington Island is the only location with a wolf "problem." According to the lady running the Prairie Portage tow other people have had wolves scratching on their tents at night on Washington Island throughout the summer. The USFS is taking note of this apparently and may try to do something about it.

There was no howling from any other direction on the lake though, so any other sites are probably wolf-free.

How cool is that? What an interesting trip it must have been. Something you do not see every day, that is for sure.

Wolves get pretty hungry during the summer because they are trying to take down healthy victims. During the winter months when all other animals are hurting for food that is the wolves time to shine. Where as all the hoofed creatures are hungry and loose strength and become an easy target for the pack.

Still I don't think I want them around my campsite, and I don't think any action will or should be taken against them. What a story I've heard the wolves before on the Echo Trail, Amazing. Thanks for sharing with us.

JB

When those wolves start howling, my hair stands on end and the surreal becomes reality. I can't imagine it going on all day. I can promise you I'd have a very nice fire....all night long!

What a great experience! Thank you for sharing.

Wow that is cool.
I spent a few days on Ensign about 15 years ago, and the wolves were very active there too. I was cooking breakfast one morning, and they started howling, and they weren't too far away. I got up and walked to the landing at our campsite, and there was a deer nervously trotting up and down the lakeshore. I love to hear wolves, but I don't want them in camp.

That is awesome..

Great story, pets are not safe in those situations.

quote Corndog: "Great story, pets are not safe in those situations."

Which is why my dog will never see the BW.

Why do you label this experience as a wolf "problem"? Are the wolves not suppose to be in this area? If there was that much evidence of wolves using that campsite and area wouldn't it have been prudent to not camp there in the first place? Maybe that's what the USFS should advise at least for the time being. Winter time is when wolves are most successful at hunting...I doubt their after humans because of a few failed hunting attempts.

Dave

just scratch them under the chin. they keep the feral cat population down, which is a good thing.

Was the moon full? Brings a chill up my spine. I saw one too many "Wolfman movies in the sixties". :) I bet it was cool, yet disturbing. 15 yds. is closer than I've ever been to one.