Wolfs and Workers Awareness Training

Scientific name: Canis lupus

Mass: 50 kg (Adult, Male)

Height: 80 – 85 cm (Adult, At Shoulder)

Speed: 50 – 60 km/h (Running)

Gestation period: 62 – 75 d

Length: 1 – 1.6 m (Adult)

Time to rethink your area and assess your risks because

Carnivore Wise communities coexisting with large carnivores and practicing “carnivore awareness” every day? • Wolves are wild animals, meant to live out their lives in freedom. When

human beings interfere in the lives of wild animals, it becomes their responsibility to provide what the animals cannot provide for themselves - a healthy environment in which to live.

• We must also reach a balance with those who want to see the wolf controlled, their concerns must not be dismissed, they must become part of the conservation debate

• For some wolves live in the imagination as shadows of evil, fueled by fallacy and fiction. Will they forever remain a thing of darkness or will the wolf emerge in the light of understanding?

• Is the cry of the wolf a mournful farewell? or does it announce his return

We can all live the right lifeRanchers and Farmers worry that wolves will eat their livestock - cows, sheep, pigs . Today in the areas where farmers and ranchers come into conflict with wolves, there is some killing of problem wolves by the federal government.• Today there is a strong anti-wolf lobby, Some judges and political leaders in

these areas are feeling pressure to side with this lobby.• "wolf predation of live-stock; sheep, poultry, and cattle does occur, but it is

uncommon enough behavior in the species as a whole to be called aberrant “For some wolves live in the imagination as shadows of evil, fueled by fallacy and fiction. Will they forever remain a thing of darkness or will the wolf emerge in the light of understanding?

• To save the wolf there may have to be a few problem wolves destroyed to save the species as a whole, there must be agreement from both the wolf conservationist and the ranchers and farmers,

Rabies like dogs is a fact of life

About half of the human fatalities from wolf attacks worldwide since about 1950 have involved wolves infected with rabies. Wolves are not major carriers of rabies, but contract it from contact with other wildlife harboring the disease.

Very Different Equally Risky

50 types of cousins world wideSpecies IndexWolf SpeciesThe Gray Wolf is the one most people are familiar with. They can be all colors and range in size depending on where they happen to reside.• Gray Wolf

The Common Wolf is also known as the Gray Wolf. This is the type of wolf that most people are familiar with.

• Arctic WolfNo other wolf in the world can offer the same coloring as the Arctic Wolf. It is very unique due to the location where it is found.

• Red WolfThe name of the Red Wolf stems from the fact that they can have a reddish coat on them. It is often a cinnamon shade of red.

• Indian WolfThe reddish or light brown coloring of the Indian Wolf is part of the reason that many believe it to be a fox when they catch a glimpse of it in the wild.

• Himalayan WolfThe Himalayan Wolf is a subspecies of the Gray Wolf. This is a fairly new species to have been identified.

• Ethiopian WolfDue to the physical appearance of the Ethiopian Wolf it is often mistaken for either a fox or a jackal.

• Eastern WolfThe Eastern Wolf is a distinct species even though many people mistake it for a subspecies of the Gray Wolf or the Red Wolf.

Yes they are

The Grey Wolf (Canis Lupus), also known as the ‘Timber Wolf’ is the largest of the wild dog family. Grey Wolves were once in abundance and distributed over North America, Eurasia and the Middle East. However, because of human-related activity such as destruction of habitat and excessive hunting, Grey Wolves now only occupy a fraction of their former range.• As extremely adaptable animals, Grey Wolves

generally live in mountains, temperate forests and grasslands.

Original land rovers Compared to a large dog, a wolf has a narrower chest and longer legs. Because their chests are narrow, their left and right footprints are closer together than those of a dogs.• Grey Wolves have very strong jaws. Wolves have 42 teeth altogether. These consist of:

12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 pre-molars and 10 carnassials and molars. A wolfs canine teeth can be as long as 1 inch long. A wolfs teeth are extremely sharp, strong and slightly curved. This enables them to grasp their prey in their teeth and chew down to the soft marrow in the bones. It also helps the wolf to eat nearly all of its prey, leaving very little waste.

• Wolf paws are able to traverse easily through a wide variety of terrains, especially snow. There is a slight webbing between each toe, which allows wolves to move over snow more easily than comparatively hampered prey. Wolves are digitigrades, so the relative largeness of their feet helps to better distribute their weight on snowy surfaces. The front paws are larger than the hind paws and feature a fifth digit, a dew claw, (a claw that grows higher on the leg so that, when the animal is standing, it does not make contact with the ground) that is absent on hind paws. Bristled hairs and blunt claws enhance grip on slippery surfaces, and special blood vessels keep paw pads from freezing

Size matters not in a pack

No real time clocks so hunting at night is always a risk

A song with dinner

Wolves are carnivores. Their natural diet is solely meat and they often prey on animals larger than they are including – deer, moose, caribou, elk, bison and musk-oxen as well small animals such as beaver, hares and other small rodents.Wolf Behaviour• Grey wolves live in packs, which have complex social

structures that include the breeding adult pair (the alpha male and female) and their offspring. A hierarchy of dominant and subordinate animals within the pack help it to function as a unit. Wolves communicate by scent-marking, vocalizing (including howling), facial expressions and body postures.

The Cry of the Wild • Ask anyone about wolf

vocalizations and the howl invariably springs to mind. Even though wolves bark, woof, whine, whimper, yelp, growl, snarl and moan a lot more often than they howl, it is howling that defines the wolf, and fascinates us.

Not your average dog but they communicate the same way in the same manner

Mother nature radio call

We do know, however, that howling keeps packmates together, physically. Because wolves range over vast areas to find food, they are often separated from one another. Of all their calls, howling is the only one that works over great distances. Its low pitch and long duration are well suited for transmission in forest and across tundra, and unique features of each individual's howl allow wolves to identify each other. Howling is a long distance contact and reunion call; separate a wolf from its pack, and very soon it will begin howling, and howling, and howling...

Are you talk at me?

When a wolf howls, not only can its packmates hear it, but so can any other wolf within range. These other wolves may be members of hostile adjacent packs that are competitors for territory and prey. Howl too close to these strangers, and they may seek you out, chase you, and kill you. So howling has its costs (running into the opposition) as well as its benefits (getting back with the pack). Consequently, wolves are careful about where and when they howl, and to whom they howl.

It is my areaThis behavior points to the second main purpose of howling: helping to maintain spacing between rival packs. When one pack howls, others nearby may reply. Very quickly, all the wolves know each other's location. By advertising their presence, packs can keep their neighbors at bay and avoid accidentally running into them.

But the use of howling in spacing is fraught with difficulties. If one pack howls, all its neighbors (within range, of course) now know its location. What if they choose to keep quiet, sneak up, and attack the howlers? Deliberate attacks by one pack on another have been seen, so there are costs to advertising your location. These risks have to be balanced with benefits. An example of this trade-off is sometimes seen during winter, when packs are traveling nomadically within (or even outside) their territories. A pack sitting on a fresh prey kill is very likely to stake its claim and howl, particularly if a stranger howls nearby. As time passes and the kill is consumed, the wolves become less invested in the site and are less likely to reply. Eventually, they may respond to a stranger's howling by silently moving away.

The WHOLE Team is Never Far Away

No mom will allow her kids to get hurt so stay away for that Kodiak moment

That famous dog scent nose will find your food and you

Are wolfs in the area?Toes and Claws• Large dogs often spread their toes with all four toes radiating

outward. Spread is less common in wolves and, if it exists, usually only the outer two toes spread. Wolves’ front claws are longer and more strongly apparent in tracks than the hind claws, but can appear distinctly in both. The appearance of claws in dog tracks is variable.

Track Size• The front feet of domestic dogs often have a round appearance with

the length and width similar in size. Wolves’ front feet are often more rectangular in overall shape, longer than wide, unless the outer toes have spread. Track size of domestic dogs is highly variable but most dogs leave tracks that are less than 3.5 in. (9 cm) in length, where wolves’ tracks are 3.5 in. (9 cm) and above.

Wolves Compared to Coyotes• Adult wolf tracks are larger and more robust than adult coyote tracks. Young

wolves’ feet grow large very quickly, and by the time they are about three months old (around July) even young wolves’ tracks are larger than most coyote tracks. Because wolves are much heavier animals than coyotes their tracks will show some spread in their toes, especially on the front track, more often than those of coyotes. In wolves, claws on the front feet are longer than the hind but generally register distinctly in both.

Wolves Compared to Domestic Dogs• Wolf tracks are larger than those of all but the largest breeds of domestic dogs,

the genetic descendents of wolves. While many dog tracks can be easily distinguished from wolf tracks, some domestic dogs have tracks that are very similar to wolves, making them indistinguishable in some instances. Use the guidelines below to help in track identification. However, keep in mind that tracks alone cannot distinguish domestic dogs from wild canids with complete certainty.

See my signature BEWARE

Wider & Fuller

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Bathroom Break

Wolf Scats• Wolves produce scats, or droppings, which are usually

composed of hair, bone fragments, and other signs of their carnivorous diet. Coyote scats, often smaller than wolf scats, typically contain small mammal remains, berries, or insects, but there can be some overlap in contents and appearance. Domestic dog scats are generally more uniform in texture and shape without noticeable hair or bone fragments. Never touch scats to avoid contracting parasites.

More Charmin PleaseWolf Scats• long and tubular – often strong in smell• range from 1 to 1.5 inches (2.45-4 cm) in diameterCoyote Scats• twisted and irregular• range from .5 to 1.25 inches (1.5-3 cm) in diameterWolves often prey on large animals such as deer and elk. They have very powerful jaws so look for characteristic feeding signs of bone fragments and cracked bones near a carcass. Wolves as well as scavengers will eventually drag off parts of the carcass. Burying an entire carcass is a practice typical of cougars and occasionally bears, but NOT of wolves. If you find a carcass move away from it – bears may take control of a carcass and can be very aggressive.

We really did not ask you here go away

To prevent wolves from becoming habituated, people should:• Resist the temptation to approach wolves.• Do not entice or allow wolves to come nearby.• Do not feed wolves or leave food outdoors, including pet food.• Do not approach fresh wolf kills, dens, or rendezvous sites.• Do not let wolves become comfortable near human-inhabited

areas.• Notify authorities about wolves that seem comfortable around

people, seek human food, or frequent human or livestock areas. Early intervention can keep a problem from getting worse.

YOU ARE WAY TO CLOSE and PERSONAL

During a close encounter with a wolf, people should do the following:• Stand tall and make themselves look larger.• Calmly but slowly back away and maintain eye contact.• If the wolf does not run away immediately, continue making yourself large, keeping eye

contact, and backing away.• Do not turn your back on the wolf or run away.• If a dog is about to encounter a wolf, the dog should be brought to heel at the owner’s side

as quickly as possible and leashed. Standing between the dog and the wolf often ends the encounter. To avoid risk of injury to yourself, do not attempt to break up a physical fight between a wolf and a dog accept by using bear spray or a powerful hose from a safe distance.

• If the wolf does not retreat and is acting aggressive by holding its tail high, raising its hackles, barking or howling, you should yell and throw things at it while continuing to back away. If it attacks, fight back aggressively to show you are too dangerous to attack.

• To ensure that there is no opportunity for your child or your pet to encounter any carnivore when camping, do not allow children to play away from camp or alone. Keep them close to adults at all times. Keep pets leashed and under control.

HOMES RANCHES CAMPS• Never let wolves become comfortable around you or your home, or they may

lose their fear of people.• Never feed wolves or other wildlife.• Garbage can attract wolves and other wildlife. Keep garbage in a secure location.• Do not leave any food outside, including scraps, pet food, or livestock feed. When

possible, feed animals inside.• Keep dogs under supervision. Wolves can be highly territorial toward other canids.• Wolves can be scavengers, so bury dead livestock and pets.To prevent livestock depredation, consider the following:

– At night, use range riders or dogs with cattle and herders or dogs with sheep.– Remove sick or injured livestock.– Delay cattle turnout until after calves are born and weigh at least 200 pounds and after

elk calves/deer fawns are born.– Avoid areas near wolf dens and wolf rendezvous sites during spring and summer.– Use permanent or portable fencing, including electric fencing.

Are you working in my area• Never feed, approach, or allow wolves to come near, or they may lose their fear of people.• Stay away from fresh wolf kills, dens, and rendezvous sites.• Keep a clean and orderly camp. Cook and store food away from sleeping areas. Suspend

food, toiletries, garbage and other loose objects on a rope between trees, or in secured kayak hatches, out of reach of wildlife. Wolves have been reported removing personal and other non-food items from campsites.

• Do not bury garbage. If you pack it in – pack it out!• Wash dishes in a container and dispose of grey water.• Near the coast use areas below high tide mark, away from camp, in an area of high tidal

exchange for toilets – do not use the upland areas, wolves will feed on human excrement.• Keep dogs on leash to avoid encounters. If you encounter a wolf, make the dog heel next to

you immediately. Standing between the dog and the wolf often ends the encounter, but never try to break up a fight between a wolf and a dog.

• If hunting with dogs, put bells or beepers on your dogs to keep close track of them. Keep dogs under your control at all times and put dogs on leash if you see fresh wolf signs.

I Can Hear you fine but I'm curious

Wolfs and 100 meter no break ruleWhat to do if a wolf approaches• The greater the space between people and wolves, the safer it is for both of

them. If a wolf appears and acts unafraid or aggressive, take the following action as soon as you notice the animal: Begin scare tactic immediately, well before the wolf is within 100 metres. Do not allow the wolf to approach any closer than 100 metres.

• Raise your arms and wave them in the air to make yourself appear larger. Use noise makers (i.e. air horns), throw sticks, rocks and sand at the wolf, to scare wolves away.

• When in a group, act in unison to send a clear message to the wolves they are not welcome.

• If the wolf displays aggressive behaviour, back away slowly, do not turn your back on the wolf.

• Use pepper spray if you have it and the skills to use it safely. Be aware of the range and operating conditions of the product you are using.

Bear SPRAY and Bangers

• Bear Spray and Bear Bangers are your last resort PLEASE USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION and SAFETY. Throwing sticks and stones will also help

• Hence you should EQUALLY be trained in BEAR AWARENESS and Bear Spray First Aid

Huge WORKER safety cautionTheir suggested minimum spray distance they recommended was 25 feet. (Over 90% of those surveyed would have liked to have the effective spray distance to be further away, but 25 feet was the minimum they considered to be acceptable.) This is for situations in which a wolf is charging from a distance. You want the spray to create as wide a barrier between you and the wolf as possible so it has the maximum amount of time to affect the wolf’s eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. • Their suggested minimum spray duration they recommended was 6 seconds. (Again, they would

have preferred more time, but this was the minimum they considered to be acceptable. Anything under that they considered to be unlikely to provide sufficient protection.) Their reasons for this recommendation was to ensure sufficient protection in a variety of wolf charge/attack situations such as:– More than one wolf charging or attacking from different directions (mother with large pups, mating pairs,

siblings traveling together);– Repeated charges or attacks (some wolfs will charge toward you, retreat, and charge again; others may circle

around you and then charge);– Defending yourself from a wolf that turns on you after you have sprayed it to stop it from attacking someone

else in your party;– Exceptionally aggressive wolfs (a mother with cubs or a wolf protecting a fresh kill);– Weather conditions that may affect the spray (wind, rain, cold);– Erratic spraying (fear factor causing some spray to be wasted because it is sprayed to soon, sprayed longer

than necessary, or sprayed above the wolf);

Bear Spray Patterns

We are part of the chain of lifeThe ecological role of intact wolf families as a keystone species merits preserving them in their most natural form. In this way they can continue to help maintain balance and biodiversity in ecosystems.• There is a lack of scientific evidence that predator control will

increase mountain caribou herds. Lethal control of wolves has mixed results and is unsound for long-term management of an ecosystem. When entire packs are eliminated, wolves from other areas may move in. Furthermore, sterilization may be ineffective in reducing births as sterilized breeders are killed during the process,

• lose their status in the pack or flee the area upon being returned.• Killing predators to help recover caribou is a short term design. Long

term recovery of caribou requires a strategy that limits continued compromises on essential habitat.

Are the HUMANS gone yet?Wolves are extremely wary of humans and not aggressive toward them by

nature. Wolf attacks are the rarest of all large predator attacks.