Minnesota Conservation Officer Steve Peterson thought it was a prank call or that someone was mistaking a German shepherd as a wolf. Until he saw it for himself.
Last Friday, Peterson responded to a call of a timber wolf that was hiding in country road ditch near Brimson, then chasing vehicles that drove past.
"Apparently it had been happening for several days before I got the call," said Peterson, who patrols out of Two Harbors.
On arriving where the caller had reported the wolf, Peterson found the animal standing in the road. As Peterson watched with binoculars, another vehicle drove past Peterson's truck. The wolf first hid in the ditch, then ran out when the vehicle drove by.
"I couldn't believe it. It was like a dog chasing cars," Peterson said. "It looked like a big, healthy male wolf. No mange."
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When Peterson pulled ahead on the road, the wolf retreated to the ditch, then lunged back on the road when Peterson pulled up.
"He hung around for a minute or 90 seconds and then walked off. I haven't heard any more reports since then," Peterson noted. "I don't know if it was protecting some food or what ... I've never seen anything like it. I've seen turkeys and ducks and geese chase after people's cars, but never a wolf before."
While the wolf didn't threaten any people, Peterson said the area will be monitored to make sure the critter doesn't get too bold with pedestrians. Northern Minnesota's roughly 3,000 wolves usually avoid vehicles and people.
When Peterson polled folks in a nearby bar, he said about half the patrons encouraged him to shoot the wolf if seen again while the other half urged him to leave it alone. -- Duluth News Tribune
