Wolf bites motorists on the Dalton Highway

By
Suzanne Downing
-
37
Photo credit: Alaska Department of Fish and Game

A wolf attacked two motorists at mile 37 of the Dalton Highway on Aug. 19, as the two people were stopped in a construction zone and had stepped out of their vehicle while waiting for the pilot car. They were bit on their lower extremities, before the wolf fled to the nearby woods after being shot at by another motorist. The wolf was not believed to have been struck.

Both people had puncture wounds and returned to Fairbanks for medical care. The Alaska Wildlife Troopers were unable to locate the wolf and notified Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

There was no indication that the people were feeding the wolf and the Troopers made no statement about whether the wolf exhibited signs of rabies.

The gray wolf has the strongest bite pressure of any canid, reaching up to 1200 lbs/square inch (PSI), according to Seacrest Wolf Preserve’s website: “Muscles that control a wolf’s jaw are enough to bite through bones.”

37 COMMENTS

  3. Did the people get out of the car to take pictures and possibly feed it? The same thing happened to some relatives in Seattle, although it wasn’t a wolf.

        • Exactly right. Guess they meant it when they said the wolf could not be found, so Suzanne posted the coyote picture instead.

          • Photo is from ADF&G under they wolf tab, and on closer study, I really do think it’s a wolf, not coyote, although with the mouth open and stretched, it has that needle-nose look for sure. – sd

            • I agree with you Suzanne. It’s hard to tell the size in this picture as there isn’t anything to give it perspective. From my 30 + years, in and out of the bush, I’d say it’s a young wolf.
              (FYI: “The coyote (Canis latrans), also known as the American jackal, prairie WOLF, or brush WOLF is a species of canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf.”)

        • Turd Gen, ain’t no Coyote, it is a juvenile Wolf. Those lanky legs will fill out as it grows.

            • Too tall for a coyote. Look at the long legs. That’s a juvey wolf on the prowl. Underfed of course. Probably six months old. But still dangerous.

            • Born in the Territory, my family has been here since 1900. But that and 5 bucks gets you a cup of coffee. Aside from the above I’ve some experience with wolves and I’ve been a Trapper and Big Game killer.
              You live in Skankorage or God Forbid along the shores of Gastineau Channel?
              Either way it’s always a good idea to leave Game identification to those with real experience.

              • Iv’e caught wolves in snares, I know wolves.
                I could teach you something about trapping.
                Why do I waste my time?

  6. I have been face to face with a wolf that was 12 feet away when we became aware of each other in a heavy rain. He looked really unhappy when he turned and disappeared into the alders next to the trail. He was already soaked. I would be surprised that something unreported hadn’t transpired to get this wolf to nip at them. Sounds like he was surprised somehow.

    • These folks were stopped waiting for a pilot car… I’m a veteran of hundreds of trips through that area – seeing game of any kind other than birds at mp37 Dalton would be unusual, and there are no coyotes – this animal was likely a male who had lost a pack dominance battle and was hungry, traveling solo. A wolf in that condition will attack anything that he thinks he might be able to take down – I had one try to bite the side view mirror on my pickup truck at 20 mph… Usually wolves will flee the noise of vehicles and groups of people – I have pictures of wolf butts! These “victims” should not have been outside their cars, likely trying to photograph the wolf. The folks firing warning shots should have killed the wolf – he will be back for more.

  8. Those rabies series aren’t going to be fun. Once again, we see the need to be armed for self-protection.

  9. That photo shows a scrawny wolf. A Belgian Mallinous, German Shepherd, and Rottweiler are larger but have only 250 to 300 lbs of jaw pressure. The wolf wins.

  10. Pro-Tip … (!!!)
    Stay inside the vehicle when stopped at the Konstruction Site. If not, be prepared to be eaten alive by: Skeeters, White-Socks, No-See’ums, Ravens, Squirrels, Grizz, and Wolves.

  11. Wolves almost never attack people. Especially that brazenly.

    Probably the wolf was sick or starving.

  14. MA, a 9 year old boy had his guts ripped open some years back by a very healthy female wolf as he played outside at a logging camp.

    A teacher in Western Alaska was shredded by a wolf pack not that long ago as she was jogging.

    Put that Farley Mowat book down and begin learning how nature really works.

  15. Back in the old days, during the pipeline construction, you would often see a yellow, Alyeska Chevy truck off to the side of the road throwing day old steaks out the window to feed a wolf. We had one come right up to the cab door and just stare at us. Probably 200 lbs or more. Amazing, beautiful animals and intimidating. Most of these wolfs were located between Five Mile and Prospect Creek Camps, north of the Yukon River.
    There was not one attack or biting ever reported during the pipeline construction.
    And 100s of wolves were fed. (As were black bears).

    • I was at 5 mile and Old Man in ’75 and ’76 I never saw a 200 pound wolf though. Pipeline food was fattening I’ll agree but 200 lbs wolf is the stuff of legend told by chechacko’s. Biggest wolf I ever heard of that was actually weighed was less than 130 lbs and it’s hide was monstrous. Caught by the legendary trapper and fur buyer named Dean Wilson who owned Klondike Alaska Furs up in Fairbanks.

    • Naw… they just come into the villages and eat poodles, beagles, and sled-dog pups… and occasionally maul people. Best not to leave your children outside alone. If you feed them regularly and never not have anything for them, they will eventually become tame. Don’t miss a feeding! Even human-fed moose will attack if they don’t get what they expect. Wolves are opportunistic killers – not cute puppy-dogs.
      For perspective: 5-mile is mp63, Prospect Creek airport is mp137 Dalton. The Jim River/Prospect Creek pipeline camp (off mp135.5) is the eastern terminus of the Bettles/Evansville Ice Road – which I traveled many times to access the Dalton. Any wolf sighting south of the Yukon River along the pipeline corridor would be very unusual. His attraction to a construction site was likely due to humans feeding him.

      • Rich, this is a no BS story. On my way to work out of Five Mile Camp in 1977, I saw a wolf and a black bear hanging out within 10 feet of each other on the Haul Road. It was 6:00 am in the summer. They were gorging themselves on thrown out pipeline food, mostly steak and ribs. When our vehicle approached, the wolf ran off, but the bear stayed. You would have to see it to believe it. But it is true. A lot of wild animals got fed fantastic grub courtesy of Alyeska. Pipeline workers had better field time with wild animals than most PhDs in wildlife management.

        • And there are home-movies of guys who built the Alaska Highway feeding and wrestling with bears – doesn’t make it a smart thing to do… I believe your story Tim, despite the disclaimer indicating… Anyway, 5-Mile is north of the Yukon. Bettles/Evansville and downriver on the Koyukuk have seen enough depredations in our villages from wolves, and lately bears – first the feds imported more wolves in 1994, then the lack of fish has driven the predators into the villages in search of food. A construction camp on the highway would be no different. I’ve been face to face with bears and wolves – thankfully I was in my truck for the wolves.

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