I've been to the Boundary Waters since the early 90s. I still go at least once a year.

The last two trips were the first where I've heard wolves. The first time, they were very close and it was a bit freaky, and haunting! I think they were warning us that we were in their territory.

Last year they were very far off. Both times were beautifully memorable. (I know I was safe during both episodes, so I wasn't concerned.)

Are the wolves on the rise? Is this rare? I'd like to hear your stories.

In 30+ years, I can only recall hearing wolves one time. On a fall trip in 2007, we were paddling across Iron Lake in what I would call a perfect vacuum - absolutely still and absolutely no sound. It was incredible. Suddenly, several wolves started howling somewhere across the lake. It sent chills down our spines, but it was ohhh, so cool.

When I bought the place in 2003, I used to hear them at night in the distance when the ore trains blew their whistles at the crossing while traveling between Babbitt and Two Harbors.

Around ten years ago they moved into the area of the gravel pit to the east. I’ve either seen them or signs of them every year since. In the summer of 2012, a wolf jumped out of the woods from behind the outhouse and into my yard. I’ve never been so close, and its sheer size sort of gave me a fright. I jumped up and yelled. The lead took off first. It sounded like a horse running by. The smaller two behind it followed.

After the hunt they haven’t been as bold, but I’ve seen them using the dirt road often. They like to leave their poop full of deer hair at the top of my driveway.

Yes, they have recovered in Minnesota, but I’ve yet to see them on a canoe trip.

I have been to the BWCA over 40 times since 1994.

I have heard wolves 3 times. Never seen one. It can be disconcerting.
I saw a moose 1 time.
I saw a bear 1 time (way far away on a hill)
I heard a bear 1 time...in camp...woke me up...scary.

My guess is they have all seen me most of my trips.

JimmyJustice: "I have been to the BWCA over 40 times since 1994.


I have heard wolves 3 times. Never seen one. It can be disconcerting.
I saw a moose 1 time.
I saw a bear 1 time (way far away on a hill)
I heard a bear 1 time...in camp...woke me up...scary.


My guess is they have all seen me most of my trips."

I LOVE your last sentence. So true.

I've heard wolves on a couple of occasions. Never seen one while paddling or camping, but I've seen them driving into or out of trips on the Echo Trail. Once I was walking between two EPs (ending our trip at a different EP than we put in.) The walk was much longer than I had anticipated. In eventual desperation, I decided I would flag down the first vehicle I saw, going either way, and ask for a ride. The first vehicle that came by was two grandparents, with two grandchildren, who were driving to the International Wolf Center... the opposite direction I was going. (They reversed course and gave me a ride.) Anyway, on the way to dropping me off, what did we see? They didn't even have to go to the wolf center!!

Another time, my wife and I were portaging in the vicinity of Fire Lake and Lake 4. The portage was uphill, to a large, open flat rock, then proceeded downhill to it's end. On my first trip over, I carried the canoe and stopped to appreciate the beautiful view from the large flat rock in the middle of the portage. I dropped off the canoe and walked back to the other end of the portage. On my second trip over, I noticed a rather large quantity of wolf scat, clearly deposited in the middle of the rock that I had previously marveled. It was obviously quite fresh. At that time, the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up because I knew there was a wolf, very near, watching me. It was an incredibly eerie feeling knowing you are being watched by a carnivore that you cannot see. I was not scared, just amazed.

Mike

Close to 20 years ago we were base camped on Boulder Bay and took a day trip to Curtain Falls. On the way back we saw 2 wolfs at the start of Bottle portage. There must have been a pack that went both sides of the portage because when we started down it they started howling. We had a 2 or 3 minute concert. This is my only contact in bwca but have stories from canoeing the Alaskan artic.

I love these stories. So it does seem to be pretty rare in the boundary waters...

The first encounter was on Fairy Lake on the Fourtown loop, and it was a love wolf. It couldn't have been more than a quarter mile away. The howl was so low and strong that it made my heart pound! My daughters and I gazed at each other wide eyed. I pulled my phone out to record, but my battery was dead. He kept howling and howling like a warning.

I was confident what to do with all other wildlife, but nobody ever said anything about wolves! (I've since learned!) But that wolf was so closethat we packed our sleeping bags and tent and paddled across Fairy Lake in the dark to sleep on the other side!

Later that night, from the new campsite, we heard the whole pack calling about a mile off.

The next day on the trail to Gun there was very fresh wolf scat. I wouldn't let my daughters walk up the trail alone, and I carried a large stick near to me. At the time, my only knowledge of wolves was movies I'd seen of wolf attacks!

Last year we heard them again further off on our last night after paddling out of Iron and through Agnes. I can't remember the name of that little lake...

While driving on 169N from Ely to Canadian Border Outfitters on Moose Lake, I have seen a "lone wolf"come out of the woods on to the road 3 times. Amazing how big a wolf really is ... I never realized it until you see one up close. The solid black one I saw a few years back was a magnificent looking animal.

I have made 40 trips into Quetico and I have never seen a wolf.

I have heard them howling at night about a half dozen times and I have seen wolf scat several times along portage trails.

My group was camping on Badwater one night. We came back to camp just before dark and cleaned some walleye for supper on a mainland point about 50 yards from camp. We had a great fried walleye supper and were relaxing by the fire with a toddy, when all of a sudden we heard a pack of wolves devouring our cleaned fish remains on the point right next to us. The alpha male was doing his best to keep the others way from the pile of fish but eventually it turned into a free for all and everything was devoured. They pack howled for a while and then went on their way.

A newbie that was with us asked if wolves could swim . ( we were on a small island site adjacent to the mainland point where the wolves appeared ). I said "YES ..they sure can swim". Well, the newbie came back with " ...damn, now I will have to sleep with one eye open tonight."

By the way ... the wolf pack came back early the next night to check out if there were any new fish remains on the rock point. We didn't clean any fish that night, so there were no fish to eat ... and the wolf pack left as quickly as they appeared.

JimmyJustice: "...I have heard wolves 3 times. Never seen one. It can be disconcerting.
I saw a moose 1 time.
I saw a bear 1 time (way far away on a hill)
I heard a bear 1 time...in camp...woke me up..."

These are moments we never forget!

We had a moose rampage through our camp four nights in a row right next to our tent! We saw new tracks every morning. The ground shook every time like heavy thunder. The last night I waited with my flashlight to try to see it but it was out of sight before I could unzip our sleeping bag. That was on Crystal Lake (entering on East Bearskin).

Jackfish: "It sent chills down our spines, but it was ohhh, so cool."

Thinking about it sometimes I still get chills! ...Amazing moments!

Wally13, what a story! Bet you've told that a time or three.

I have seen or heard them in the BWCA a couple of times.

MN has a very healthy wolf population.

If I want to find wolf sign I just need to travel a little ways from my house.

Saw fresh tracks when I was out for my morning walk today.

I saw 13 or so last year. the closest one was less then 200 yards from the house.

I have cam game pictures of them less then a 100 yards from the house.

Our best BWCA wolf experience was our final night last year on Gaskin. We were up late looking at the stars and were treated to 30 minutes of wolves howling back and forth from various directions and distances around us.

This is the black wolf that was hanging out on the chainsaw sisters road

I herd them last August on Caribou (west). I briefly saw one 13 years ago on Slim . I say briefly because one the people I was with decided to yell "look a Wolf!" then it ran off. One of many reasons I haven't invited him back on a trip.

riverrunner: "I have cam game pictures of them less then a 100 yards from the house."

Share your pics!

dustytrail: "Close to 20 years ago we were base camped on Boulder Bay and took a day trip to Curtain Falls. On the way back we saw 2 wolfs at the start of Bottle portage. There must have been a pack that went both sides of the portage because when we started down it they started howling. We had a 2 or 3 minute concert. This is my only contact in bwca but have stories from canoeing the Alaskan artic."

Amazing. Did you get a picture?

Jwartman - Great pic!

Blatz: "...one the people I was with decided to yell "look a Wolf!" then it ran off. One of many reasons I haven't invited him back on a trip. "

I don't think I'd invite him back either!

Blatz: "I herd them last August on Caribou (west). I briefly saw one 13 years ago on Slim . I say briefly because one the people I was with decided to yell "look a Wolf!" then it ran off. One of many reasons I haven't invited him back on a trip. "

I heard wolves on that Caribou in 2016. Wonder if it was the same pack.

Have also heard wolves on August Lake just outside the BWCA in 2019.

I saw one on the road to Sawbill about 3 miles from the store 3 or 4 years ago. A big black one like jwartman59's picture.

September 2018 we were base camped on Malberg for 9 nights. We heard wolves 4 days in a row either morning or evening. Then on the 7th evening, we watched 3 wolves wander the shoreline across from camp, they were inspecting a beaver lodge and watched us as we were watching them through binoculars.

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. It was a still morning, the wolf was sunning itself, it would catch wind of something and sit up for a while looking around. Then would lay back down.

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. It was only a couple hundred feet from me.

I've seen many in my lifetime, one time I saw one swimming across Insula.

Last year we were staying at Vosburg's. Betsy and Willie told us about a Wolf that would come out to eat any fish Carcasses that they put out for the eagles.
Sure enough we witnessed it. The wolf seemed like it came out of Know-where.
It was Very majestic. Nature is awesome.

In October of ? 1990 or so, I was camped on Hegman with my best old college friend. Right before we were to hit the sack, I was …. well … frankly … on the latrine. Wolves started howling, clear as could be. My friend, down by the grate, hollered up to me with a great deal of excitement, something about the wolves, meanwhile I was trying to be as quiet as possible to best hear them, and as reverent as one can be while on the throne. I have never seen one while tripping, but have seen them in the Ely area. Once - we were hiking on an old forest road, and a black wolf crossed close in front of us. Someone was baiting bear near by, and I quite imagine the wolf was drawn to whatever the bait was. The coolest experience was taking my mother-in-law to the Wolf Center (she has since passed). We signed up for and went out on an excursion to 'howl with the wolves.' After receiving howling instructions, we all got into a van at 10pm. Mum was elderly and not very able bodied, so she got the front seat and red-carpet treatment. The van was of questionable vintage, and even more questionable brakes. The driver/our guide had spent his day at his day job, painting a house, and I'm quite certain he'd inhaled way too much paint fumes. Never-the-less, on a far back road, somewhere down by Bearhead, he spied fresh wolf scat in the middle of the gravel. I've never seen anyone so excited about wolf droppings. He hit the brakes (such as they were), hopped out and inspected - apparently it was still steaming, so he found a place to pull over, and we disembarked, and our human pack began our newly practiced howling routine. In short order, the wolves responded! We spent some time conversing with the wolves, somewhere out there in the darkness, erstwhile being chomped on by mosquitoes. My M-in-L was so thrilled I'm pretty sure she wet her pants. For good measure, once back at the Wolf Center PL, we stepped out of the van and howled again. The resident pack responded in kind. It was the experience of a lifetime for Mum, and really amazing for us all.

I have yet to see any on trips, but I hear them and find there scat quite often.

I had stereo wolf packs once. I was camped on an island and one group was howling on shore, seemingly to another group on the other shore. I heard pups yipping too. A kingfisher kept circling my island and a Whippoorwill was singing on the shore too. Then geese flew so low overhead that I heard their wings. On top of the cacophony, the Sun gilded the world. See?

On the last morning of an October trip in the Quetico. A sunny morning on Robinson Lake, I stopped for a cup of coffee as I was packing, sort of laying in the sun amongst the unpacked gear. I looked up as a large wolf came strolling down the ridge and into camp- heading right towards where I was stretched out. My camera in easy reach, though in its case. I didn't snap a photo, instead (full fledged idiocy) when it was about 20ft away I said "Hey wolfie" and startled it to the degree that it nearly ran into a large white pine- it then regained its wits and dropped from sprint to casual walk (I'm cool, I'm cool, always knew you was there, it was your accent that spooked me, that's all) and melted into the woods.

Early one winter skate skiing on South Hegman (with a very small 7# dog) I saw a pack of 4 wolves leave the woods (I was downwind) and spot me moving on the ice. My means of locomotion must have been foreign to them for they immediately fanned into a "hunt" formation- one going into the trees on one shore, two going into the trees on the other and one moving towards me on the ice. I stopped skating and picked up the dog- I could watch the two on the right shore moving towards me, the brush on the left was too thick to see that one, the one on the ice trotted in my direction. The dog begin making noise and when I told it to hush the wolves recognized me as "man" and gathered on the ice and loped off.

We saw two wolves together on Cross River on our way to Long Island Lake. One was drinking water and the other was standing behind it. On the way back out we saw a lone wolf that was a different color from the previous two that was swimming in Cross River about 50 yards in front of our canoe. This was back in 2017. That was a memorable trip!

Mike

No sightings in 25+ trips, but have heard them a couple of times. Portaged past their scat a number of times, which always reminded me we are in their domain...
AdamX

On solo trips I often just bring a bivy sack. Works pretty good even in the rain. However little camp critters thinks it’s a game to crawl around on me during the night. Mostly I ignore them, one night I had enough. I peeked out and there was a wolf in my campsite, probably twenty feet from me. I bring my 85 lbs lab now, his job is to patrol the parameter. He’s a big super friendly dog but has this thing about uniforms. It’s essential to bark at the mailman. On a river trip a park ranger was doing a campsite check. No Park ranger is going to sneak into our campsite without Milo making a huge racket

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.

I think have seen wolves on 7 different occasions.

Your story, Mike, reminds me of a solo trip when I saw a big beaver swimming from a shoreline to an island. It was hard to make out the details because the rising sun was behind it and there was great glare. Still, it was such a big beaver that I paddled closer for a good look at it.

Closer.

Closer.

Squinting and trying to reach the beaver before it reached the shore.

Closer.

A bear!

Full retreat speed back paddle!

I’ve heard them howling a few times on trips, but have never seen one in the BWCA. However, twice in the car I have seen one. The first time me and my wife and kids were driving home from our Ely cabin and saw one cross Hwy 1 right in front of us about 25 miles south of Ely. The 2nd time was last May, my dad and I were up fishing opener weekend to open the cabin up and fish a little. We decided to take a day trip into wood lake which is west of our cabin. Right before we got to the EP on the Fernberg Road, a monster wolf ran across the road right in front of my truck. I had to hit the brakes, I looked at my dad and said, “tell me you saw that!” He just smiled and said, “holy schnikeys that was a huge wolf”. We laughed and continued our day on Wood Lake.

Tony

I heard 3 different groups of wolves howling once when camped on Gillis Lake. That was on my second BWCA trip back 30 years ago. I've done about 25 or so more trips since, and just heard wolves howl for the second time in February this year on Brandt Lake. I think, especially in the BWCA, hearing or not hearing them has more to do with being in the right place at the right time more than changes in the population.

I have seen a lot of prints, some very fresh on winter camping trips, but no sightings in the BWCA. I did have a nice conversation with a motel owner in Ely as I was checking out and getting ready to start an October trip and we talked about many things including wolves. I commented that I had (at that time) taken about 20 trips and never seen a wolves anywhere in Minnesota, but routinely saw them in Yellowstone. About 5 minutes later as just before the turn for the Echo Trail a wolf ran across the road - maybe he was going to the wolf center? What a coincidence.

From our first Crocodile Lake trip report, May 13

'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.

As it became pretty much full dark, we went back to the site. A few moments later Jim and I both spotted a snowshoe hare come into camp so we both froze...and remained that way for about 10 minutes. We watched this hare wander through camp, sniffing everything including our tents, and finally make her way literally to our feet. She sniffed both of our shoes and legs and sat there seemingly without fear. At this time, the barking/growling of the wolves was still going on out there somewhere. Finally, after watching her for awhile, we began moving a little bit and talking to her but it didn't seem to phase her a lot. She just moved about camp for another 5 minutes or so before making her way back into the woods. Two interesting encounters...and this was just the first night!'

Trying to keep up with all these encounters. They're all amazing! It's just so rare that you get to encounter nature in it's purest form. What a privilege we've all had. On this Good Friday, I stand in awe of a God that expresses Himself in a million ways by all He has made. Thanks everyone for sharing your amazing wolf stories! No two encounters alike...

jwartman59: "



This is the black wolf that was hanging out on the chainsaw sisters road"

That's an incredible picture!

I never tire of seeing wildlife of any kind. When I lived up the gunflint I would see wolves frequently In the winter, especially if there were deer around. Took lots of photos of the aftermath of such meetings.

My nephew loves, loves, loves wolves and wanted too see one so bad. When he got married several of us aunties and my mom pitched in to give them a long weekend at gunflint lodge in a romantic cabin right along the lakeshore. Well, he got his wish one night when walking from the lodge to his cabin. He got pricklys up his arms and neck and turned around to find a wolf following him! He did screech a bit and scooted quickly to the cabin. What a treat for him.

Another winter night the guests in two cabins by the lake watch as wolves cornered a nice buck right outside their picture window. The counted and thought there were about 22 wolves. ThAt seems like a lot for one pack. Anyway, there was very little left of that deer. I always wonder what they do with the head and the antlers. Perhaps the brain is a highly sought after part of the deer?

I think my photo gallery has a winter section and a deer section, might find some pictures.

On our last trip, shortly after ice out, we saw sucker heads on most portages were near waterfalls. The rest of the body had been chewed off by something. Is that the leftover from a wolf snack?

Listened to the wolves howl on Rush Lake one year. Made the hairs on my neck stand on end. Attributed that to the ancient man in me knowing that there was something out there that was a step above on the food chain. But was fortunate to see this animal one year as we left on the Gunflint Trail.

Very cool photos! I wish I could've found mine from an experience seeing one.

An hour or so after dawn, on an ice out trip in April around 2014 or 15, we came around the southern point on Lower Pauness and saw what we later learned was a wolf swimming across the lake. It got out on the point campsite and shook off and continued around the lake clockwise. We waited a few minutes and then got out and saw small clumps of his VERY long fur that came out when it shook off. Our feeling was quite eerie, seeing the wolf stalking around the edge of the lake and it was also very mangy due to the season and the winter fur coat shedding. On the next portage, past Devil's Cascade, we saw what looked to be a HUGE bed of hair off to the side of the portage. I've always guessed this was from a long sessions of grooming from the wolf we saw, or a combination of the pack they belonged to. The bed of hair was thick and about 5 to 6 feet in diameter.

Ihave to the BWCA many times and never daw a wolf. Had them in my camp site many times in the years I tok my Scouts to Tomahawk Scout Camp near Rice Lake WI.
About 90 foot from my back door, just south of Aurora, mn; I had a lone wolf kill adeer. We could watch him chjewing on it. That was three years ago. This last March the wolf killed a deer but this time 50 feet further back in the woods. Last week his tracks were seen in the snow by my back door. About once amonth during the winter I see his tracks going from the woods in back and down the driveway.
My neighbors feed the dear and there is a trail through my back woods. I can see the deer on the trail occasionally and almost daily at the neighbors. I am in a rural area. I have seen the wolf several times in the woods but he keeps his distance.

I've only seen a couple of wolves in and around the BW. But I see them a lot north of Duluth. Hear them even more. In fact, they will often even come into town, following the deer.

30-some trips over 42 years, 1971-2013. Only saw one wolf, from a distance. Only one bear, also from a distance, as it was on shore and we were just paddling by. Many, many moose sightings, but most of them were on our long trip in 1992. I just wrote up the trip report and it was fun to remember all of them. Seeing a moose never gets old for me.

Have heard wolves at night a few times; I would guess maybe three. The last time was when we were camping on Sawbill with HoHo and David at the end of the "Return to Cherokee" trip. They were far off in the distance.

I love otters and haven't had nearly as many sightings as I would have liked. They are hard to photograph, and I never got a good shot.

A few wolf stories...
I heard a wolf for the first time in the BWCAW/Quetico only last year in more than 25 years of paddling. I had just finished bushwhacking into an unnamed lake shaped somewhat like an hourglass. At the point where the lake narrows, an animal was swimming from one side to the other. Too far to get pictures with my little waterproof camera and not wanting to miss a moment, I watched the wolf climb out of the water, shake itself off and slowly walk into the woods. The next two evenings I was camped on the same lake. Both nights after I had climbed into my hammock and well after dark, the wolf (I'm sure it was the same one), treated me to the most wonderful serenade of mournful wolf howling that I've ever heard.

I live about 12 miles NE of Grand Marais, and I see wolves and hear them regularly. Just saw one the other day on the Gunflint Trail next to the water tower. I see them at my cabin, I see them from my deer stand during archery season. Two seasons ago, I saw more wolves from my stand than deer. A pack of 4 appeared out of nowhere one morning about 2 hours after a doe and fawn had wandered by and immediately changed directions when they cut the trail of the deer. Pictured above is one of the four wolves.

In 2000, before the cabin was built, I lived in a tent on my land. One late spring morning I woke up to what sounded like a thundering herd running through the woods around the tent. I whipped open the tent flap and screen and caught a glimpse of a wolf chasing 2 deer just as they all disappeared into some thick brush down the hill from me. Looking back toward the direction they came from, I saw a large black wolf appear on a trail about 30 yards away from me. It stopped when it saw me peering out of the tent at it and then just melted into the brush.

One more.... 6 years ago, I was archery hunting about a mile from the cabin one morning, and I was able to arrow a buck. I hadn't brought my knife so I laid my jacket over the deer and hiked back to the cabin crossing a deep ravine and a small stream on the way. It was an hour later and well into the day by the time I got back to the deer carcass. One thing I've noticed about downing a deer where I live is that the ravens find the thing really quickly. There they were, creating a racket and announcing to the world what they had found, including any wolves that were within earshot. About 10 minutes into the process I heard movement in the brush and glanced up only to find myself staring at a wolf. A scrawny, malnourished looking wolf. Anything I did to scare it away didn't work, it just retreated and watched. I returned that afternoon and put out a trail camera to try and get some photos of it. It was hilarious to see the transformation from scrawny wolf to a wolf with an oversized paunch in a matter of hours. I have the pictures somewhere and will post if I can find them.

While it's really cool to see and hear wolves around the cabin, it's a different experience and feeling to encounter them on a canoe trip. I don't know why, probably just a mind thing. Still, somehow I felt connected to the wolf that I encountered in Quetico last Spring. Not so much with the wolves I see on a regular basis around Grand Marais. I would surmise from my experiences that the wolf population around Grand Marais has increased dramatically over the years. In the BWCAW/Quetico, I see plenty of sign but rarely see or hear them.

All of you - thank you for sharing your stories and pictures. There's too many to respond to every one, but keep the pictures coming if you can. I love to see them! And so do a lot of others!

September 1998, while driving the dirt road to an outfitter on Moose Lake I rounded a bend in the road and there stood two wolves. Only saw them a few seconds before they scurried into the brush. Both were the typical white, gray and reddish brown in color, and looked young, maybe a yearling and that year's pup. When I mentioned it at the outfitter's Dave S. said there had been a pack hanging around in that area.

I have heard them howling a number of times while in the Q. Once in the very early morning during a solo trip, woke me up, but most times in the late morning hours. Sometimes very faint and far off, and a few times like they were just across the lake hidden by the trees. To hear them, to me, is both eerie and awesome at the same time, never fearful though. I do worry a little about my dog meeting up with them. I'd love to see one again.

LittoralZone: "...To hear them, to me, is both eerie and awesome at the same time, never fearful though. I do worry a little about my dog meeting up with them. I'd love to see one again."

It is both eerie and awesome!

My daughter and I read about wolf attacks on humans in history. They are comparatively few in number, but almost always the human who got attacked had his dog with him. We've noticed that many of the nussance bear stories invading camps also had dogs. I think dogs attract wild animals!

TheGreatIndoors: "On our last trip, shortly after ice out, we saw sucker heads on most portages were near waterfalls. The rest of the body had been chewed off by something. Is that the leftover from a wolf snack? "

My first thought is otters, not wolves:

”The river otter food chain consists mostly of fish. River otters prefer larger fish due to ease of capture; larger prey gives river otters more energy as well. They enjoy carp, sunfish, minnows, suckers, sculpin and salmonids such as trout and salmon. River otters also prefer slower-moving fish to game fish.”

What Do River Otters Eat?