Wolf Encounter - Isle Royale

May 2006 - Myself (Patrick) and my friend Dave were hiking around Isle Royale when we experienced one of the most scary but memorable experiences of our lives. A wolf crossed the hiking trail near where we were eating dinner. Totally amazed, we just sat there and watched him walk away and up a large rock formation behind our campsite at Chippewa Harbor (one of the sites on the island). At this point I picked up my camcorder and started filming while my Dave tried to get his Nikon equipment together. As you see in the video, I started up after the wolf once he started walking away. The video is somewhat crappy, although extremely funny, because I never turned it off. I ran up the large rock formation only to discover that there were two wolves up there. One fled into the forest while the other one lept out at me from behind a small pine tree. I then turned and ran back down the hill towards my friend Dave (that begins when you hear me yell "Oh Shit!"). We then made our way back up to the top of the formation where we videotaped and photographed the wolf. The footage is not great because it was so unsteady - I was shaking all over. But there are some shots that are steady and let you get a good glimpse of the wolf.

Isle Royale is a National Park in Lake Superior.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Wolf
• Isle
• Royale
• Hiking

[chunt984]

The video is "somewhat crappy"? I almost puked halfway through! You got some good shots, and I certainly understand your excitement at seeing a wolf for the first time; in the future, however, please resist the urge to chase after the wildlife - this only results in nauseating your audience and further compromising the coexistence of humans & animals on the island.

[trailgoat]

I totally disagree with your comments. There's a big difference between a wolf seeing an airplane fly overhead in the dead of winter and two-legged humans chasing after them with a video camera. Wolf-human encounters have gone up on the island over the past few years--it's behavior like this that will continue to push the numbers. If it continues, someone is going to get hurt or a wolf is going to be needlessly killed because they 'got too close' to a hiker.

[genie1971]

Just a brief correctionwolves are not scavengersthey are predators on top of the food chain. Their presence is vital in any ecosystem, for they keep animals they prey on healthy and balanced. Instead of using colorful metaphors...feed your mind by reading about research on wolf impact in places like Yellowstone, or how they could be the missing link in prairie restoration.

[lundboater]

You leaf lickers can suck a fat one, he has every right to follow a wolf if he wants to. Oh, the poor wolf might have to take an extra step to get away from the terrible human, give me a break. They are just scavengers, they will make it as long as there is food. Next time chase that son of a bitch 'til he can't run anymore.

[genie1971]

The wolf went back to his pack and told the other members, "I just had the most scariest experience down at the trail. I just saw people with cameras running after me."

[rdellar]

beginning was like a deleted scene from BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. Edit the video to the shots with the Wolf, we would appreciate it.

[19smalltown89]

thats extremely rate considering there are only about 20 some wolves on that island

[chicagobdr529]

Like hey man, dont mess w/ that wolf's world man, you just caused him great stress and anguish, unreal. How the hell did a Wolf deal w/ early frontier encounters or even that by Indians.

They do just fine on the Keweenaw, perhaps even to good and they have a much closer relationship w/ people.

[mossberghunter93]

ive been to IRNP

[Lidstrom4jl4]

nice vid. Wolves can suck a big one. They are eating all the deer in the U.P.