I have had two encounters with wolves and both have been a hair raising experience.

Four years ago my son Joel and I were deer hunting on St. Joseph Island, just east of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. It was getting late in the day and we decided to try a parcel of land which I had built 2 tree stands on. I put Joel in one stand and I decided to sit in a stand further back in the bush overlooking a cedar swamp. I was in the stand for about an hour when I heard what I thought was a dog bark about 100 yards in front of me. Then there was a bark to my right. I remember thinking, “What was a dog doing out here and how did he travel so fast through the bush?” Then there was a bark to my left and then they all started howling and I realized they were wolves or coyotes and they were completely around me. What an eerie feeling! They were howling all around me and it was starting to get dark. I know they won’t attack humans but if they can bring down a large buck then they can certainly bring down me.

 I made my way down to the ground and walked very nervously back to Joel’s stand only to find it empty. When I got to the road, there was Joel in the truck anxiously waiting for me. We both agreed that we had hair on the backs of our necks that we didn’t know about.

 We never did see any wolves that day but they were too close for comfort.

 Tonight, (Nov 9, 2002), Reilly , my Chesapeake Bay retriever, and I went for a walk on HWY 17 north, out of the city. We were walking on the sidewalk just approaching a hydro right of way when I heard wolves or coyotes yipping east on the hydro line. The grass is about 3 feet high there and because it was dark, you couldn’t see very far. I recognized the yipping right away. It sounded like there were several wolves and from the sound of their yipping they were moving fast. I frightfully realized that they were moving towards me. There goes the hair on the back of my neck again!!!! The road is a 4 lane highway and I decided to cross the road and started to head back south. The wolves/coyotes came within 20-30 yards of the sidewalk when I reached the other side of the road. This is when they stopped howling. I didn’t have a gun with me this time and consequently I was very nervous. Even though I had Reilly with me I still didn't trust them. I'll bet there's not many stray cats in that part of town. Once I traveled south about a 1/4 mile I felt a lot safer.

 I guess I’m overreacting but I’d rather be safe than sorry.