We were in Quetico just a week ago (end of July) and one morning while camped on Shade Lake at about 4:30am or so we heard a noise that sounded like a pack of dogs, squabbling/barking. It was kind of a burst of sound and lasted maybe only two seconds, no further noise. It must have been within a mile, maybe closer. And it must have been at least 4 animals, probably more.

We figured the odds of that many big dogs at one camp site is somewhat low and heard no human sounds to go with it. And also it sounded too deep to be coyotes, which I have always found a little higher pitched. Our minds went to wolves. How likely is that? Has anyone heard similar dog-pack squabbling sounds?

One of the coolest sounds one could ever hear in canoe country. We heard them in the hills around Iron Lake one time many years ago on a day that was incredibly calm. So calm, it was almost vacuum-like. I remember it like it happened yesterday.

We heard wolves when camped near Boundary Point in June.

I met a couple two or three years ago where the wife ran in between a mother wolf and her three cubs on the portage between Jesse and Elizabeth. Apparently they yapped a lot but didn’t interfere with her progress. I did the portage later that day and saw nothing.

I have frequently heard wolves in the park and I believe I saw wolf tail one day on Brent.

They are definitely in the Park.

Years ago, at Shade Lake early spring I was the first person in there that spring. I had a pack of wolves to the east of me and a pack to the west of me each howling. I would howl also, and they would howl back to me. I quit howling after a little bit, being alone I didn't want any visitors.

Very cool, Pinetree! What an experience.

Based on input here and thinking about it more, I feel we must have heard a wolf pack that morning. Wild!

Often hear wolves... Makes the trip special. Draper Lake is a good place to hear them.

Heard them howling shortly after moonrise one week ago while camped on That Man. What a sound! Something I will never forget.

I’d venture to say there’s a very good chance it was wolves having a small squabble. Packs are basically family units, and family members do sometimes have little dust-ups, or sometimes big ones. Could have been either equals disputing something or an alpha disciplining someone else.

Reminds me of sounds I’ve heard while working at sled dog races. Sled dogs are most often gentle and friendly, but they are probably a few steps closer to their wolf cousins than most pets. I have a few times seen a couple (usually just 2), get into disagreements over something or maybe nothing. Sometimes members of two teams, or sometimes two team mates, possibly siblings, who are use to running next to each other suddenly just go at it. It usually just lasts 2-3 seconds and gets settled before the musher or anyone else can get there. It sounds far, far worse than it actually is.

Besides, in the small chance there was someone there with two large dogs, why would they be squabbling at 4:30 in the morning. More likely pet dogs would be asleep.