Residents of Fort McPherson, NWT urged to take precautions after three wolves were spotted

The NWT’s Department of Environment and Climate Change is asking people to use caution with their dogs after three wolves were spotted around Fort McPherson, NWT.

A lone wolf, which had been seen roaming around the community since early October, was shot and killed by a community member this week, said Lila Woodrach, manager of wildlife and environment for the Beaufort Delta region.

She said the wolf was seen roaming with a group of stray dogs and eating food from dog bowls in the community.

Diana Coe, president of the Tetlit Gwich’in Council and a Fort McPherson resident, said the wolf is not afraid of dogs or people in the community.

“It was very relaxing to walk down the main street, sit at people’s feet and hang out with other dogs,” she said. “It became worrying.”

After the wolf was shot, two more came forward and are still roaming around the community, Coe said.

Wolves have not attacked anyone and currently pose little threat to people, but dogs are at greater risk and can transfer the disease to humans, Woodrach said.

He said dogs have been killed by wolves in the past.

To prevent more wolves from coming into the community, Woodrach is asking owners to leash their dogs and not let them roam free.

Woodrach also stressed that vaccinating dogs against rabies is the best way for humans to prevent the disease.

“Wolves are wildlife so they can be potential carriers of diseases that can spread to people, their pets,” Woodrach said. “That’s why vaccinating dogs for rabies is so important.”

Coe said people in the community are taking precautions. Residents are asked not to feed wolves or leave food out, including bird food.

Traps have been set by the community’s renewable resources officer to capture the remaining two wolves.