On September 14, 2018, Wolf Patrol began monitoring bear hunting activities in the McDonald Creek Wolf Caution Area which was designated by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) following the August 31 killing of two bear hounds by wolves.

To date, there have been fourteen separate fights between federally protected gray wolves and bear hounds since bear hound training season began on July 1st. Ten dogs have been killed and another ten injured by wolves as there are released across northern Wisconsin to chase bears. Many bear hunters using hounds place “striker” baits on national forest lands where they place food to attract bears their hounds can later chase.

Since 2015, Wolf Patrol has documented extensive bear baiting, bear hound training and hunting in areas where wolves clash with bear hounds. Intentionally feeding bears leads to not only bears being conditioned to being fed, but deer and other wildlife, which in turn can attracts wolves who also identify bear baits as a food source.

For a scientific study on the conflict between bear hounds and gray wolves:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0061708

In Wisconsin many hound hunters will also continue to run their dogs through wolf territory after depredations have already occurred, knowing they will still be compensated up to $2,500.00 for each dog killed by wolves.

If you agree that its time to end bear baiting and hound training in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, please send your email opposed to these practices to US Forest officials at:

cnnfadmin@fs.fed.us