BWCA Wolves Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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12/17/2017 09:04PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Just curious how many citings of wolves there are? Also, is there a spot in the BWCA that they are more concentrated?
 
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Savage Voyageur
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12/17/2017 10:58PM  
I’ve heard them many times and only seen one. I’ve seen thier footprints in the same moose or deer print. I’ve seen lots of result of thier pack hunting. Last June there was fresh prints on a muddy trail I had walked on 4 hours before. They are very elusive, sneaky, great hunters. I’m sure they have seen me many times. If you see one consider yourself lucky. I would say they are everywhere up in the BWCA but maybe more of a population where moose and deer roam.
 
12/18/2017 06:47AM  
Very hard to see, but hear them often. Only one I’ve ever seen was actually crossing the road just south of gunflint Lake, absolutely massive animal. I once thought I saw one at the portage landing for Caribou Lake coming from Lizz, from 200 yards out it sure looked legit. Ended up being someone’s husky that had run ahead on the portage.
 
ozarkpaddler
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12/18/2017 07:09AM  
Ragged: "Very hard to see, but hear them often. Only one I’ve ever seen was actually crossing the road just south of gunflint Lake, absolutely massive animal. I once thought I saw one at the portage landing for Caribou Lake coming from Lizz, from 200 yards out it sure looked legit. Ended up being someone’s husky that had run ahead on the portage."


Not out of the question, we heard a pack in that area once; they seemed to be coming from Swamp lake, just SE of Lizz (We were on Caribou)?

I've heard them in the Jasper/Kingfisher area and thought we got a glimpse near the Kingfisher portage? Ironically, my only definite sighting was actually driving between Finland and Ely. It crossed the road, I slowed down and it stopped; we looked at each other and I guess it didn't like the way I looked? It skeedaddled in a big hurry!

Also heard them in the Gunflint, North, South area and the Ottertrack and Ester area. Like Ragged said, you're more likely to hear one than ever see one.

 
12/18/2017 08:20AM  
Their writings are very rare, so they don't get cited much :)
 
marsonite
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12/18/2017 08:24AM  
By far, the best chance of seeing one is from your car. Most likely at dawn and dusk but they can turn up any time. In 40 years of canoeing, I've seen only one that swam across a river in front of us, but that was in Wabakimi. Very cool sighting.
 
missmolly
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12/18/2017 08:35AM  
rtallent: "Their writings are very rare, so they don't get cited much :)"


;-)
 
missmolly
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12/18/2017 08:35AM  
marsonite: "By far, the best chance of seeing one is from your car. Most likely at dawn and dusk but they can turn up any time. In 40 years of canoeing, I've seen only one that swam across a river in front of us, but that was in Wabakimi. Very cool sighting. "


I was so stupid this past June that I had a big beaver swimming in front of my canoe and it wasn't until the big beaver came out of the water onto an island that I realized it was a bear. In my defense, I did have the morning sun in my eyes.
 
12/18/2017 08:38AM  
I agree with others, you should consider yourself lucky if you see one and the best place would be from your vehicle.
I used to see a couple every year but I worked for the Superior NF then, and I was always in the woods.

I've only watched them two times from close range when they did not know I was there.
One time I snuck up on one by Isabella, we spent about 45 minutes belly crawling toward it in a swamp. We got to within 75 feet of it before it took off.

Another time I got to within 200 feet of one, it was turning over rocks that were submerged In about 6 inches of water. It did this for about 150 along shore, finally I had to get into my canoe and purposely spooked it after watching it for 10 minutes.
 
12/18/2017 09:26AM  
One morning in Ely I checked out of my motel and was chatting with the owner. I mentioned that while I had seen them frequently in Yellowstone, I had never seen a wolf in the BWCA in 15 trips, or anywhere in Minnesota even. Heard howling packs, found kills, and plenty of fresh tracks - but no sittings. Not five minutes later one ran across the road in front of my car, and of all things right by the Wolf Center.

I'm hoping I'll get a chance to see one on my January trip.
 
QueticoMike
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12/18/2017 10:18AM  
I have seen 6 or 7 during my travels. I have a few stories about the encounters, here is one......

Sea Wolf

As I stood at the edge of the island campsite, the full moon slowly drifted downward over the western tree line as the sun began to illuminate Jean Lake on its early morning climb. My soul was full of mixed emotions. A day every Quetico dreamer dreads, it was time to depart and head back to so-called civilization.
I had just spent the past week with three of my best friends on this lake. We'd paddle to our campsite in one day from Beaverhouse Lake and had stayed there for the duration of our trip.

This group didn't want to be put through the same rigors of past trips. My typical wilderness adventures begin with the Meadows Lake portages heading towards Agnes Lake. My friends didn't want to portage or be too adventurous; they wanted to fish.
When staying in only one location, there doesn't seem to be as many opportunities to experience the wonderful environment surrounding Quetico Provincial Park. I enjoy viewing nature and the the optimal way is to keep on the move.

It's been said "be careful what you wish for, you might just get it". We were finally going to travel, but not in the direction my heart and soul wanted to proceed. It was time to leave our island paradise. The canoes were packed up, the coffee and granola had been consumed, so we pushed off on our initial leg of four miles on Jean Lake towards the Conk Lake portage. Terry and I cruised in the Kevlar canoe, while Tom and Bo piloted the aluminum canoe.
About half way down the lake we spotted something swimming out in the middle. Each of us begun taking turns guessing.
"It's a loon"
"No, it's too large"
"Maybe it's a bear?"
"No, it's not that big"
"Maybe it's a bear cub?"
"That's possible"

No one had binoculars and the only real way to determine the species was to paddle towards it. It was several hundred yards away and the canoe race was on. The Kevlar, being the sleeker of the two, pulled away for the victory.
When we were finally close enough to realize what it was, I turned and yelled back towards the other canoe, "It's a wolf ! ".

Terry and I quickened the pace to have a better view before it reached shore. I didn't want the wolf to panic, so I stayed about 10 yards out away from it.
It was mystical staring eye to eye with a wolf and not having fear of the canine. We snapped a few pictures as the other canoe approached and then moved out of the wolf's path. The four of just watched in amazement as the wolf swam to shore, jumped up on rock ledge, shook off the lake water, looked back at us one last time and disappeared into the thick woods.
Maybe my wish to travel wasn't so bad.


 
QueticoMike
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12/18/2017 10:23AM  
 
12/18/2017 10:31AM  
Yet to lay eyeballs on one. I've not seen more prolific sign of theirs than along the portages between Elton and Ledge Lakes.
 
Gadfly
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12/18/2017 10:32AM  
I have seem them a couple times but only in the winter and they were far across a lake. we barely made any progress out onto the lake and they were gone.
 
DeuceCoop
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12/18/2017 11:02AM  
missmolly: "
rtallent: "Their writings are very rare, so they don't get cited much :)"



;-)"


LOL y'all beat me to it. I read in the Police Beat that one was recently cited for excessive howling.
 
missmolly
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12/18/2017 11:43AM  
You are the lucky one, LT3. I've done some belly crawling with deer and turkey to get close and once with an otter too, but never a wolf.
 
Davkumi
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12/18/2017 12:46PM  
I have the opportunity to post this photo again as a once in a lifetime wolf experience. This was a few years ago on the Vermilion River, just outside of the BWCA. It was on the portage trial around table rock falls.
 
ellahallely
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12/18/2017 01:51PM  
I have seen more wolves then I can count, I would guess around 200. 2 on Isle Royale and the rest in Northern Minnesota. 90% I have seen in the winter on trails while I was on a snowmobile. Found a dead one on a game trail February 2014 5 miles east of Isabella. Weighed maybe 40 lbs. and had mange. Most times it is 1 or 2, unless on a kill. The biggest one I saw was black and would say it was almost 150 lbs, just west of sawbill landing. Most that I have seen weighed less then 100 lbs maybe 80 lbs. It is hard to tell with their winter coat.
 
yogi59weedr
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12/18/2017 02:12PM  
Davkumi......
Awesome picture.
 
12/18/2017 02:27PM  
I would see some occasionally around the resort where I worked as a kid west of Ely. My most memorable sighting at that time was when I was driving the resort pickup truck to the local dump (dating myself here). I had to stop at a railroad crossing and there was a huge wolf just sitting in the grass next to the tracks, not 20 feet from me. We stared at each other for a few minutes, than he just silently slipped away into the brush. I was thrilled.

I saw one on a trip into Quetico along the shore of That Man Lake trotting along the shoreline just before dusk. I was on the water in my canoe and just sat and watched as he continued on his mission.

Last year I briefly spotted several pups sitting beside the Gunflint Trail in early June. As soon as they spotted my car they were gone. I also spotted three moose and a bear on that drive.
 
12/18/2017 02:52PM  
I've only seen one crossing a road on my way to Ely.
I was surprised how long the legs are compared to the body.
 
OtherBob
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12/18/2017 04:14PM  
Saw a small black wolf crossing Gunflint Trail at South Brule River this past August.

Saw a medium size gray colored wolf loping along the Fernberg Road about 10 years ago.

20 years ago or so we had a lone wolf 300 feet or so behind our site at the head of the Horse River. He was howling to 2 or 3 wolves across Horse Lake, and they would howl back. It was too dark to see him ( and we were cowering in our tents, anyway). Great memory of a rare event. Oregonyer (remember him?) was camped nearby, we found out later, and heard the same wolf concert.

Years back in several trips to Knife Lake, we heard nightly choruses from a pack on the Canadian side. We weren't afraid of them because we knew Homeland Security had secured the border. Haven't been back there in a while. Are they still there (the wolves, not Homeland Security) ?

Glad the wolves let us share their wild places with them.
 
mc2mens
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12/18/2017 04:14PM  
I have yet to see one wolf in the wild. I've heard them many times, seen kills, tracks and scat, but never seen one. Basswood Lake has been the area where I've heard them the most in the BWCA. And a few of my traveling partners have seen them in this area too. I've seen lot's of scat and track along the Taconite Trail while grouse hunting, north of Hibbing. Saw a kill hiking along Daniels Lake Trail last September - moose killed by wolves - scat all over the place. The pack must have been working on him for a while. It looked like the moose exploded.
 
12/18/2017 07:48PM  


A recent Game camera picture by Longville.

About 10 years ago I was walking a logging trail Grouse hunting along the Tomohawk trail by Isabella lake.
I look up and just ahead of me about 20 yards away comes a wolf,it flushes a grouse and it flies and lands in a tree above me. Thought of shooting the grouse, but decided well that was the wolves grouse. We stared at each other and he walks away. The grouse lived for another day.
Seen quite a few winter time camping when they like lake travel.
 
12/18/2017 09:12PM  
Seen them in Yellowstone...but then...so does everyone else! If I lived up north, I'd probably see them quite often. I'm thinking probably up in the Grand Rapids area or towards Ely maybe. I've heard them a lot up in the BWCA as well as in the QPP in certain regions.
 
Sjlubner
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12/18/2017 09:33PM  


My most memorable sighting was between Little Sag and Mora a few years ago. During a fall trip, while traveling the portage, we stumbled upon a mother wolf with 4 young of the year crossing the river. I think our presence was masked by the noise of the moving water and thus allowed to us to be briefly close enough to observe in the thick MN woods.

I also used to routinely (once a week) see wolves while dumping a fish carcasses bucket across the lake. Often a lone wolf, sometimes more.
 
12/18/2017 09:53PM  
HighnDry: "Seen them in Yellowstone...but then...so does everyone else! If I lived up north, I'd probably see them quite often. I'm thinking probably up in the Grand Rapids area or towards Ely maybe. I've heard them a lot up in the BWCA as well as in the QPP in certain regions."


There is probably more wolves south of Grand Rapids than by Ely now. More food available in more deer present.
 
12/19/2017 06:40AM  
1. I saw a pack of wolves walking across Moose Lake about 10 years ago on a cold Jan. Morning
2. About 7 years ago I saw a huge one cross the Kawishiwi Lake Road just after the Hog Creek parking lot. Nose to tail was almost the width of the road.
3. About 6 years ago I saw another huge one cross the Sawbill Trail. When it got back into the woods it stood behind a tree peeking at us. We could only see one eye which reminded me of a famous Jim Brandenberg print.
4. About 5 years ago I saw one cross The Grade.
5. 2 years ago while on my early May solo I saw 2 wolves swimming in Horseshoe Lake. When I got too close they went up on shore and I saw them walk by just behind the tree line. That was an awesome trip. I saw as many wolves as I saw humans.
 
12/19/2017 08:03AM  

Perhaps my experiences are a bit of an anomaly but I have seen wolves on numerous occasions including three of the last four times in the BW. My Wife and I have also seen wolves in places like Isle Royale, Yellowstone, Denali, and Glacier National Parks as well as during hikes in the Canadian Rockies.
Always a thrill to see these amazing creatures!
 
MrBadExample
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12/19/2017 08:27AM  
Pinetree: "
HighnDry: "Seen them in Yellowstone...but then...so does everyone else! If I lived up north, I'd probably see them quite often. I'm thinking probably up in the Grand Rapids area or towards Ely maybe. I've heard them a lot up in the BWCA as well as in the QPP in certain regions."



There is probably more wolves south of Grand Rapids than by Ely now. More food available in more deer present."



I can second this comment. I live just south of Grand Rapids and would wager I have seen no less than 25 wolves in the last 5 years. Lived 30 years without seeing 1. Now see them quite frequently.

Had a pack of 6 stare me down on a small, secluded lake while ice fishing. Came within 200 yards of me. That was pretty wild. Got to the truck fairly quickly that morning.

Ironically, the name of the lake I was on that morning is Wolf Lake. It’s in the Savanna Portage State Park.
 
inspector13
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12/19/2017 08:51AM  

I wish the wolves would stop pooping Bambi bits on my driveway...

 
12/19/2017 09:03AM  
MrBadExample: "
Pinetree: "
HighnDry: "Seen them in Yellowstone...but then...so does everyone else! If I lived up north, I'd probably see them quite often. I'm thinking probably up in the Grand Rapids area or towards Ely maybe. I've heard them a lot up in the BWCA as well as in the QPP in certain regions."




There is probably more wolves south of Grand Rapids than by Ely now. More food available in more deer present."




I can second this comment. I live just south of Grand Rapids and would wager I have seen no less than 25 wolves in the last 5 years. Lived 30 years without seeing 1. Now see them quite frequently.


Had a pack of 6 stare me down on a small, secluded lake while ice fishing. Came within 200 yards of me. That was pretty wild. Got to the truck fairly quickly that morning.

Ironically, the name of the lake I was on that morning is Wolf Lake. It’s in the Savanna Portage State Park."


Nice lake. Seen one in that park about 3 weeks ago. Yes on Wolf lake there is often Wolf tracks. Lately there has been a flock of wild turkeys by that lake. I would of never imagined that. Must be getting handouts someplace.

The wolf range like south of Longville really spread southward in about 1991. Before that they were pretty rare. Than you had a lot of Coyotes. Coyotes are gone now.
Also wolves are well established at least 25 miles south of Brainerd now.
 
12/19/2017 11:22AM  
Thanks everyone for sharing. I love hearing all the stories and encounters. The pictures are great! Wolves have been my favorite animal since I was a little kid. Hopefully I will get to see one in my adventures up there.

The only encounter that I've ever had is a family member that would breed his dogs with wolves in Washington and he had a husky wolf mix that was 15/16 timber wolf. It was huge! Friendly, but I would never be comfortable with a little one nearby.
 
HowardSprague
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12/20/2017 07:55AM  
A few summers ago on the way to Ely, I had one cross the road in front of my truck while on Hwy 1, somewhere between Chub Lake Resort and Ely. He was pretty big, glided effortlessly, and had a radio collar. That was my first sighting.
Later that week, OneMatch & I were camped on Hassel Lake. He retired to his hammock (rough site, only room for one tent) while I sat by the fire a bit longer. It got dark and I heard a snarl followed by two separate howls - one deeper, one a little higher pitched. They were in the direction of my tent and not more than 40-50 yards away, max. It was loud! I thought that was incredible. And chose to stay by the fire a bit longer.

It had been a tiring day - finishing with the Lunetta to Hassel portage was tough. Jerry was out, didn't hear it - it never woke him!
 
12/20/2017 10:46AM  
In over a decade of travel in NW Ontario I have seen almost all of my wildlife sightings on the highway from Thunder Bay to Armstrong ON. I have seen wolves twice on the road as well as numerous other wildlife. In the bush all I have seen includes 1 bear, several moose and 1 caribou.
 
yogi59weedr
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12/20/2017 12:12PM  


I've only seen 2 wolves in many trips.
Both on the road.
One from ely to tower.
The other just turned off the Fernberg rd. Onto moose lake rd.
Heard packs probably a dozen times.

That Brandenberg print is my favorite.
 
12/20/2017 01:35PM  
yogi59weedr: "

I've only seen 2 wolves in many trips.
Both on the road.
One from ely to tower.
The other just turned off the Fernberg rd. Onto moose lake rd.
Heard packs probably a dozen times.


That Brandenberg print is my favorite.
"


Was the wolf you seen at the Moose lake rd. and Fernberg road like maybe 6 years ago? That wolf hung around that intersection a lot and was fairly tame. He or she would just look at you and stare. I think it was like a 1 year old wolf when I use to see it.
 
12/20/2017 09:08PM  
HowardSprague: "A few summers ago on the way to Ely, I had one cross the road in front of my truck while on Hwy 1, somewhere between Chub Lake Resort and Ely. He was pretty big, glided effortlessly, and had a radio collar. That was my first sighting.
Later that week, OneMatch & I were camped on Hassel Lake. He retired to his hammock (rough site, only room for one tent) while I sat by the fire a bit longer. It got dark and I heard a snarl followed by two separate howls - one deeper, one a little higher pitched. They were in the direction of my tent and not more than 40-50 yards away, max. It was loud! I thought that was incredible. And chose to stay by the fire a bit longer.


It had been a tiring day - finishing with the Lunetta to Hassel portage was tough. Jerry was out, didn't hear it - it never woke him!
"


Wow! That would have been quite the experience. Definitely not one that you will ever forget.
 
12/20/2017 09:17PM  
HowardSprague: "A few summers ago on the way to Ely, I had one cross the road in front of my truck while on Hwy 1, somewhere between Chub Lake Resort and Ely. He was pretty big, glided effortlessly, and had a radio collar. That was my first sighting.
Later that week, OneMatch & I were camped on Hassel Lake. He retired to his hammock (rough site, only room for one tent) while I sat by the fire a bit longer. It got dark and I heard a snarl followed by two separate howls - one deeper, one a little higher pitched. They were in the direction of my tent and not more than 40-50 yards away, max. It was loud! I thought that was incredible. And chose to stay by the fire a bit longer.


It had been a tiring day - finishing with the Lunetta to Hassel portage was tough. Jerry was out, didn't hear it - it never woke him!
"


That area was the first area I heard wolves howl after dark while in the tent. I was camping on Phantom lake(about 1978) doing a Ruff Grouse hunt on the recently abandoned logging road in the BWCA from the Wolf lake road west side of Burntside where I hiked in. They howled for a long time and it was also one of the first times I camped alone. They were probably a half mile away.
Yes it was a little spooky being my first experience. I think it was about a year later I found a deer buck skull and antlers attached of what was all that was left from a recent wolf dinner.
I look back and really cherish those moments.
 
yogi59weedr
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12/20/2017 10:40PM  
Ya know now that ya mention it it was about 5 yrs ago
 
andym
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12/20/2017 11:15PM  
missmolly: "I was so stupid this past June that I had a big beaver swimming in front of my canoe and it wasn't until the big beaver came out of the water onto an island that I realized it was a bear. In my defense, I did have the morning sun in my eyes. "


We’ve done the same thing although we figured it out before it got out of the water. But on first sighting, we thought beaver and then realized that the beaver was a bear head. Got to watch it for quite a while as it explored campsites and checked the fire pits and obvious food hanging trees.

As for wolves, have heard many, seen scat multiple times, and only spotted one.
 
12/21/2017 12:08AM  
yogi59weedr: "Ya know now that ya mention it it was about 5 yrs ago"


That was a different wolf .
 
mgraber
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01/06/2018 01:29AM  
We watched a pair swim across Boot lake(Near the Fourtown portage) about 8 years ago. They crossed near our camp and then hunted for awhile in the bog on the other side. Really neat experience. BIG animals.
 
ozarkpaddler
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01/06/2018 05:21AM  
OtherBob: "Saw a small black wolf crossing Gunflint Trail at South Brule River this past August.
Years back in several trips to Knife Lake, we heard nightly choruses from a pack on the Canadian side. We weren't afraid of them because we knew Homeland Security had secured the border. "


I just got back to this thread, you cracked me up; THAT is FUNNY (LOL)!

I looked for the story I wrote up of the howling encounter we had on Ester Lake and cannot find the darn thing in my computer. It's on a Floppy disc, remember those? So I guess I'm going to have to re-write it, so here's a quick synopsis.

We were doing a base camp on Ester with me solo and my buddy 'Ol Bill and his son Danny. On the 3 trips that Danny did with us, he always slept in my tent because his dad's snoring was so loud. My wife always said we had no worry about bears when Bill and his wife came on couples trips, because he'd scare them away (LOL)! His snoring coincided with the last "Zzzziiip" of the tent zipper, I never knew anyone who could go to sleep that fast?

It was a few nights into the trip and we'd had some really nice fishing for smallies on Ester and northerns over on Gift Lake back in the PMA. Anyway, we had just settled in when the howling started. We whispered, "Bill...BILLL....LISTEN!" "WOW......now THAT is special" seems to be what he said? We listened and whispered back and forth for a little while then another wolf began howling what sounded like 50-100' behind the tents! About then, I hear Danny saying "Ttt..terry, ttthere's something soft...and FLUFFY that just came under the tent next to my LEG!" "Yeah, right" I whispered. "Nnno, I'm SERIOUS!" I grabbed the flashlight and there was a very large lump underneath the tent snuggled right next to my freaked out little buddy. I had a good idea, but I just said "Poke at it and push it out." "NO" he said! So I said "O.K., go open the tent door and look when I push it out." I have to admit, it WAS creepy pushing against that warm soft, fluffy object. Steadily pushing at it, the snowshoe hare finally gave up it's shelter underneath our tent and quickly made tracks into the night as the lupine chorus continued to our "Oooos and Ahhhhs" for some time.

I'm going to share this on Bills and Danny's FB pages. That was one of those fond memories that I'll probably remember until I draw my last breath!

 
01/06/2018 06:58AM  
ozarkpaddler: "
OtherBob: "Saw a small black wolf crossing Gunflint Trail at South Brule River this past August.
Years back in several trips to Knife Lake, we heard nightly choruses from a pack on the Canadian side. We weren't afraid of them because we knew Homeland Security had secured the border. "



I just got back to this thread, you cracked me up; THAT is FUNNY (LOL)!


I looked for the story I wrote up of the howling encounter we had on Ester Lake and cannot find the darn thing in my computer. It's on a Floppy disc, remember those? So I guess I'm going to have to re-write it, so here's a quick synopsis.


We were doing a base camp on Ester with me solo and my buddy 'Ol Bill and his son Danny. On the 3 trips that Danny did with us, he always slept in my tent because his dad's snoring was so loud. My wife always said we had no worry about bears when Bill and his wife came on couples trips, because he'd scare them away (LOL)! His snoring coincided with the last "Zzzziiip" of the tent zipper, I never knew anyone who could go to sleep that fast?


It was a few nights into the trip and we'd had some really nice fishing for smallies on Ester and northerns over on Gift Lake back in the PMA. Anyway, we had just settled in when the howling started. We whispered, "Bill...BILLL....LISTEN!" "WOW......now THAT is special" seems to be what he said? We listened and whispered back and forth for a little while then another wolf began howling what sounded like 50-100' behind the tents! About then, I hear Danny saying "Ttt..terry, ttthere's something soft...and FLUFFY that just came under the tent next to my LEG!" "Yeah, right" I whispered. "Nnno, I'm SERIOUS!" I grabbed the flashlight and there was a very large lump underneath the tent snuggled right next to my freaked out little buddy. I had a good idea, but I just said "Poke at it and push it out." "NO" he said! So I said "O.K., go open the tent door and look when I push it out." I have to admit, it WAS creepy pushing against that warm soft, fluffy object. Steadily pushing at it, the snowshoe hare finally gave up it's shelter underneath our tent and quickly made tracks into the night as the lupine chorus continued to our "Oooos and Ahhhhs" for some time.


I'm going to share this on Bills and Danny's FB pages. That was one of those fond memories that I'll probably remember until I draw my last breath!

"


That is definitely at life long memory.

I have heard of animals doing that when wolves are near. I knew I’d a guy that had a baby moose come and hid between their tents because of wolves.

Thanks for sharing.
 
ozarkpaddler
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01/06/2018 03:17PM  
CanoeViking: "
ozarkpaddler: "
OtherBob: "Saw a small black wolf crossing Gunflint Trail at South Brule River this past August.
Years back in several trips to Knife Lake, we heard nightly choruses from a pack on the Canadian side. We weren't afraid of them because we knew Homeland Security had secured the border. "




I just got back to this thread, you cracked me up; THAT is FUNNY (LOL)!



I looked for the story I wrote up of the howling encounter we had on Ester Lake and cannot find the darn thing in my computer. It's on a Floppy disc, remember those? So I guess I'm going to have to re-write it, so here's a quick synopsis.



We were doing a base camp on Ester with me solo and my buddy 'Ol Bill and his son Danny. On the 3 trips that Danny did with us, he always slept in my tent because his dad's snoring was so loud. My wife always said we had no worry about bears when Bill and his wife came on couples trips, because he'd scare them away (LOL)! His snoring coincided with the last "Zzzziiip" of the tent zipper, I never knew anyone who could go to sleep that fast?



It was a few nights into the trip and we'd had some really nice fishing for smallies on Ester and northerns over on Gift Lake back in the PMA. Anyway, we had just settled in when the howling started. We whispered, "Bill...BILLL....LISTEN!" "WOW......now THAT is special" seems to be what he said? We listened and whispered back and forth for a little while then another wolf began howling what sounded like 50-100' behind the tents! About then, I hear Danny saying "Ttt..terry, ttthere's something soft...and FLUFFY that just came under the tent next to my LEG!" "Yeah, right" I whispered. "Nnno, I'm SERIOUS!" I grabbed the flashlight and there was a very large lump underneath the tent snuggled right next to my freaked out little buddy. I had a good idea, but I just said "Poke at it and push it out." "NO" he said! So I said "O.K., go open the tent door and look when I push it out." I have to admit, it WAS creepy pushing against that warm soft, fluffy object. Steadily pushing at it, the snowshoe hare finally gave up it's shelter underneath our tent and quickly made tracks into the night as the lupine chorus continued to our "Oooos and Ahhhhs" for some time.



I'm going to share this on Bills and Danny's FB pages. That was one of those fond memories that I'll probably remember until I draw my last breath!





"






That is definitely at life long memory.


I have heard of animals doing that when wolves are near. I knew I’d a guy that had a baby moose come and hid between their tents because of wolves.


Thanks for sharing. "


I shared this old story with my buddy, Bill. He's had major health issues and is pretty much home-bound now. But we will always have those memories to cherish! Funny, that I just assumed my brave old buddy was in the next tent listening at ease, he told me this today. "When I heard the wolf let out a loud howl that close to our tents I grabbed my buck skinner and pulled my sleeping bag over my head" (LOL)! I never knew that because we all put on that macho act to each other. Truth be known, if the roles were reversed and no one could have seen ME, I may have done what HE did (LOL)!
 
riverrunner
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01/07/2018 10:34AM  
Saw tracks never actual wolf in the BWCA.

Now around home in NW Wisconsin that is a different story. When I was working and putting on lots of miles every day 15 to 20 a year the most was 24 in one year.

I can go out after a fresh snow and find wolf tracks with in two miles of the house any time.

I get pictures on the game cams a lot I have seen them from the front deck had them walk under the bow stand several times.

I see wolves about as often as I have seen coyotes.
 
01/07/2018 11:07AM  
riverrunner: "Saw tracks never actual wolf in the BWCA.

Now around home in NW Wisconsin that is a different story. When I was working and putting on lots of miles every day 15 to 20 a year the most was 24 in one year.


I can go out after a fresh snow and find wolf tracks with in two miles of the house any time.


I get pictures on the game cams a lot I have seen them from the front deck had them walk under the bow stand several times.


I see wolves about as often as I have seen coyotes."

Pretty soon you probably won't see coyotes. We use to have a lot of coyotes,where we have wolves now we have very few coyotes. Wolves don't tolerate them. brother had a dead red fox the other day on his lake and wolf caught it and crushed its rib cage with apparently little fighting.
 
nova9er
  
09/08/2020 12:04PM  
Our group had a big wolf walk into our camp in broad daylight this past week on Knife. Walked 15 feet behind one of our group members. It wasn't bothered by us at all and eventually went on its way.
 
09/08/2020 05:49PM  
I saw two wolves on Lynx Lake-different trips. One was crossing the creek between Lynx and Little Shell. The other time I watched a wolf walk through woods for about 100 yards as I was fishing. As I reached for my camera his head shot up, he stopped and bolted off into the woods.
The most memorable time was when I was driving out of Mudro. It was late fall and nearly dark. I saw two wolves on the road. As I approached, they didn’t seem the slightest afraid of me. They were probably 50 yards from me. I got out and tried to photograph them but It was too dark. They circled back around my car and realized I wasn’t using my brain. I slowly walked back to my car and got in. They eventually went off.
 
RetiredDave
distinguished member (368)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/08/2020 06:47PM  
I've seen a few on Fernberg Road and on the Echo Trail. Actually out paddling only once, on Moosecamp Lake (site 1082). It came out of the woods across from me, walked along the shore a bit, then ambled back into the woods.

Wolves howled that evening as well.

Dave
 
09/08/2020 09:11PM  
rtallent: "Their writings are very rare, so they don't get cited much :)"


I see what you did there
 
09/08/2020 09:45PM  
Haven't seen them in the wild, but for the first time, I heard them howling near Little Brule River on the Superior Hiking Trail semi-close to camp last Thursday night... closer than I would have preferred. It was really freaky because you could tell there might have been 6-8 of them, but now that I'm in the safety of my home, I have to admit it was kind of cool to hear them.
 
09/08/2020 11:56PM  
In 13 trips, heard them once and never seen one.
 
09/09/2020 08:22AM  

I know this is a bit of an anomaly but we have spotted wolves on our last four trips to the BW. Once they were eating fish guts we had left on a rock, once a wolf crossed right in front of my son along a portage, once along the shore of an island, and once from our vehicle as we were departing from our outfitters parking lot.
 
MrFeesh
member (39)member
  
09/09/2020 03:43PM  
Wife and I were camped on Horseshoe 3rd week of August, as we're fishing along (not catching much) I told my wife that 2 nights ago I had a weird dream that during a thunderstorm I heard a distant roll of thunder and then a wolf howl, I sat up and listened for more, heard my wife say it's thundering and thought yea that's pretty obvious, it's lightning, and went back to sleep. Any way it really surprised me when she said she had heard it too
 
analyzer
distinguished member(2162)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/09/2020 05:05PM  
In 48 years of visiting the bwca, I've only heard them twice that I can recall. I've only seen two wolves, both from my vehicle. One near the end of the gunflint trail, a little SE of Seagull, walking through the blowdown probably 2000 or 2001. The other was walking across Hwy 2, a little west of Grand Rapids. I hunt SE MN though, and we don't have to deal with them down there. Just coyotes.
 
09/09/2020 05:16PM  
Cricket67: "
rtallent: "Their writings are very rare, so they don't get cited much :)"



I see what you did there"




That Ray has got Tallent!
 
straighthairedcurly
distinguished member(1921)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/09/2020 08:31PM  
Heard some on Red Rock Lake this summer, but I have only ever seen a wolf while canoeing in Canada.
 
09/09/2020 09:10PM  
I saw my first wolf while driving up the Echo Trail. It was a big one.
A couple years ago, I saw one on the road near Gunflint Lodge. It crossed the road in two big leaps and it was gone.
I also saw a pair on Hwy 61 near Temperance River State Park.
I have heard them on Ensign, and Knife lake on a couple of occasions.
 
09/10/2020 02:59PM  
Briefly spotted several young pups along the road on the Gunflint a couple of years ago. By the time I realized what I was seeing and could give a heads up to the passengers in the car with me, they were gone.
 
mmrocker13
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09/14/2020 10:46AM  
We've heard them several times... a couple of times on Agnes and Red Rock, but that was a while back--maybe 10-12 years? Then, we just heard them a couple nights last week up on Crooked (in between wednesday/thursday bays)--they were quite active. :-)

I asked at the wolf center how many packs in the BWCA area, and she said "quite a few" :D

The only ones I've ever seen have been along the road/in and out of trees, though.
 
Savage Voyageur
distinguished member(14414)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished membermaster membermaster member
  
09/14/2020 11:12AM  
nova9er: "Our group had a big wolf walk into our camp in broad daylight this past week on Knife. Walked 15 feet behind one of our group members. It wasn't bothered by us at all and eventually went on its way. "



Wow, how exciting that must have been.
 
09/14/2020 03:32PM  
I've seen two, the first one in my rearview mirror as it crossed the Gunflint Trail a half dozen years ago and the second crossed in front of us driving out on Clearwater Road earlier this summer. It's easy to forget how big these animals are until you get lucky enough see one up close.

 
Bsieben
  
08/14/2023 09:37AM  
They are very active East/North East side of Trout Lake right now! Very close to camp sites. If you are not aware/prepared, they can sound terrifying at night while you (try) to sleep. They were in campsite 244 Saturday night (8/12/23).
 
OldGuide2
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08/14/2023 08:06PM  
Maybe I have just been lucky or maybe it is being in the BW and Ely area for so long, but have seen quite a few. Two of the most memorable were just outside the BW. Once I was staying at the GEL and got up at dawn in the winter to look out the window and watch a group of three wolves pursue and bring down a fawn that was with its mother. It was fascinating to watch them work together to separate the fawn. The doe put up a good fight to protect the fawn, but the three were too quick and too well organized. Once they got the fawn, but it managed to get away and the doe rescued it. The second time they separated the fawn, they made no mistake and fortunately it was over quickly. The doe escaped as the wolves fed on the fawn. They left and then came back to the kill over several days. The second memorable time was very spooky. A good friend, Doug Bobo, had died over the winter and I stopped to see his wife Jean at their cabin on Little Long. Jean wasn't there so I walked around the corner of the cabin to find a lone wolf right on the path, only a few feet away. We stood and looked at each other for several minutes. The wolf made no aggressive moves and for some reason I just felt a deep, almost spiritual calm. Finally he slowly trotted away. I later told Jean I felt it was Doug's spirit come back to check things out. I also saw a wolf the evening after we buried my father in the Ely cemetery. He was on a nearby ridge on Little Long but spooked when he saw me. The next morning I found a fresh deer kill near the spot where he was standing. Joe Seliga once told me a great wolf story. He was ice fishing when he felt something behind him and turned around to see a pack of wolves.
 
Duckman
distinguished member(528)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/14/2023 08:41PM  
I’ve always had a fascination with wolves. One of the main reasons I go to the BWCA is for a chance to see or hear one.

But the only time I’ve seen one was a scraggly loner running out from behind a garbage dumpster behind an outfitter.

It was not the majestic moment I was hoping for!
 
airmorse
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08/15/2023 07:21AM  
OldGuide2: "Maybe I have just been lucky or maybe it is being in the BW and Ely area for so long, but have seen quite a few. Two of the most memorable were just outside the BW. Once I was staying at the GEL and got up at dawn in the winter to look out the window and watch a group of three wolves pursue and bring down a fawn that was with its mother. It was fascinating to watch them work together to separate the fawn. The doe put up a good fight to protect the fawn, but the three were too quick and too well organized. Once they got the fawn, but it managed to get away and the doe rescued it. The second time they separated the fawn, they made no mistake and fortunately it was over quickly. The doe escaped as the wolves fed on the fawn. They left and then came back to the kill over several days. The second memorable time was very spooky. A good friend, Doug Bobo, had died over the winter and I stopped to see his wife Jean at their cabin on Little Long. Jean wasn't there so I walked around the corner of the cabin to find a lone wolf right on the path, only a few feet away. We stood and looked at each other for several minutes. The wolf made no aggressive moves and for some reason I just felt a deep, almost spiritual calm. Finally he slowly trotted away. I later told Jean I felt it was Doug's spirit come back to check things out. I also saw a wolf the evening after we buried my father in the Ely cemetery. He was on a nearby ridge on Little Long but spooked when he saw me. The next morning I found a fresh deer kill near the spot where he was standing. Joe Seliga once told me a great wolf story. He was ice fishing when he felt something behind him and turned around to see a pack of wolves. "


Great stories. I have heard them, but never seen them. Hopefully in a few weeks.
 
08/18/2023 12:27AM  
Never seen any but certainly have heard them quite often.
 
08/18/2023 08:40PM  
Excerpt from my trip report to Crocodile Lake back in May 2013:



The first night we were out fishing on the front rocks just before dusk when we heard a loud splash from the bay just to our west. Thinking moose, we both readied our cameras and strained our eyes to see it. To our surprise it was not a moose at all. The photos aren't very good but it was a long distance and very low light...



As far as we knew, we were alone on Crocodile Lake with our 3 visitors and it was an interesting experience indeed. They barked and growled for about an hour before they left. I was hoping for a full blown howl, but although they would start what sounded like a howl, they would break it off into a growl every time.











 
08/18/2023 08:40PM  
 
08/18/2023 09:16PM  
I am the same way. I have always from my childhood found wolves to be amazing.

Once, when I was in the woods in Arkansas, I had a massive dog like animal that looked like a wolf and was the size of a large wolf and to this day I don’t know what it was.

I hope someday to get to see something like that in the BWCA.
 
08/19/2023 08:33AM  
Only once in BWCA, Western Lake …..
 
allfish
senior member (79)senior membersenior member
  
08/19/2023 11:09AM  
We have heard them a bunch of times, the only time we ever actually saw one was driving up the road to James Bay.
 
Duckman
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08/20/2023 07:52PM  
CanoeViking: "I am the same way. I have always from my childhood found wolves to be amazing.


Once, when I was in the woods in Arkansas, I had a massive dog like animal that looked like a wolf and was the size of a large wolf and to this day I don’t know what it was.


I hope someday to get to see something like that in the BWCA. "


Where in Arkansas? I’ve done a deep dive in wolf sightings here. A few seemed credible. It’d be quite the journey for a loner to make it down here.

Here’s a fun link: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/dec/11/as-promised-arkansas-wolf-report/

 
08/20/2023 08:24PM  
That is pretty cool. I have thought it was a wolf for years, but everybody told me that they are no wolves anywhere in Arkansas and so not to look crazy I was just told everybody it was the largest canine I have ever seen, when I used to live there.

I was located near Magnolia Arkansas.
 
landoftheskytintedwater
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08/24/2023 10:55AM  
Only time I've seen one was in the bay with the old ranger cabin adjacent to Lower Basswood Falls. We were watching a deer swimming in the bay. When it tried to exit the water, we saw a pup emerge from the woods trailed by an adult. They both bolted when they saw us. The deer got back in the water immediately and kept swimming.
 
minnesotashooter
distinguished member (228)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/25/2023 08:45AM  
I've had the opportunity to see two in person. First experience was pheasant hunting in SW Minnesota, we kicked up a huge white wolf. My black lab came running back to me as scared as I have ever seen her. That wolf was spotted several times through the winter in the area. Not sure why it wandered so far south.
Second sighting was on Gabbro several years ago. We were on an island site and over on the opposite shoreline was a wolf.
Heard a pack of wolves howling early June this summer while we were on Crocodile.
 
Davkumi
senior member (87)senior membersenior member
  
08/27/2023 05:01AM  
Years ago on the Vermilion River just outside the Boundary Waters. We were walking the Table Rock Falls portage. A one in a life time experience!
 
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