We had a new experience this past Sunday (9-12-21) on Ensign Lake outside Ely. It was our third night at our 4 star camp on the south shore of Ensign about mid-point on the lake. We have 20+ years experience in the BWCA and we keep our camp tidy and the bear bag hung. So it was a shock when at about 0620 hours Sunday a dark colored wolf skirted the perimeter of the camp. We were still lounging in our hammocks when one of our party heard the sounds of an animal moving around the edge of the camp and saw the wolf as it passed about 30 feet away. It was our only sighting of the animal, although we heard wolves howling in the distance almost every night of our 5 nights at this campsite. We know this is a rare experience and thought the BWCA community would like to know about it.

I had one come into camp one night just after dusk at a Parent Lake site while hiking the Kek. It actually barked at us which is pretty rare, but likely was surprised that we were there and alerted others. Was tough to sleep after that for a while.

I concur on the sleeping bit. Every chipmunk became a werewolf after the sighting.

ELRW: "I concur on the sleeping bit. Every chipmunk became a werewolf after the sighting. "

Funny!

Others have seen the same thing on that lake this year. Must be some braver/tamer ones there (which isn't a surprise for how busy it is w/ paddlers)

We were on Birch Lake in July. Just loaded at he portage and my daughter and grandson witness a black wolf jumping on a beaver house. I didn’t see it because her dog dumped my canoe. That wasn’t all.
A couple days later on Knife Lake my daughter went out back to visit the thunder box and a black wolf came within 15’ of her and started walk behind her. Well she let out a couple blood curdling screams and the wolf left. I picked up a paddle and ran back there, surprising how fast an old man can run. In the meantime a Boy Scout guide from the next site can running to our site and ran into the wolf on the way. I am sure the Scouts slept with one I open for at least a couple nights.
I talked to conservation office after we left. He said there have been instances of wolves coming into sites looking for food and people feeding them.
Now it’s not only the bears going after human food the wolves have learned to. From then on we watched our dogs closely.

Carl

I didn't see one while canoeing last week, but one crossed in front of my car on Monday (September 13th) just as I was driving out of Ely early in the morning. It was a dark-pelted wolf.

Dave

It was at campsite 1225 on Ensign.

If a wolf frequently appears at campsites, it’s very likely that it has been scavenging, even occasionally having scraps thrown to it. After all, that’s exactly how we ended up with this on our beaches and elevators: