For the Tomahawk Leader
LINCOLN COUNTY – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced on Thursday, July 7 that a hunting dog had been depredated in Lincoln County.
DNR said USDA Wildlife Services, on Friday, July 1, verified that wolves had killed a Plott trailing hound in the Town of Russell.
According to a map provided by DNR, the depredation occurred near County Hwy. J and State Hwy. 17.
No other information about the incident was provided.
As of Friday, July 8, the Lincoln County incident marks the first time a hunting dog has been killed by wolves in Wisconsin this year, according to DNR data. There have been two documented depredations of pet dogs in the state in 2022 – one probable depredation in Douglas County and one confirmed depredation in Jackson County.
“Dog owners are reminded to exercise caution in wolf occupied areas,” DNR stated. “Conflicts between hunting dogs and wolves are most common during the bear training and hunting season.”
DNR said dogs have also been depredated pursuing other wildlife, including fox, coyotes, bobcat, rabbit, snowshoe hare and upland birds.
In the event of a wolf attack in hunting or training situations on public land, DNR creates wolf caution areas to warn hunters that a specific pack has attacked a dog or group of dogs.
To view current caution areas and to learn more about dog depredations in Wisconsin, visit www.dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wolf/dogdeps.html.
To report a suspected wolf attack, call 1-800-228-1368 (northern Wisconsin) or 1-800-433-0663 (southern Wisconsin).