[Paddlewise] More on Wolf Bit Story

Apparently the kayaker mauled by a wolf the other day was a University
of Victoria student. It is believed to be BC's first-ever wolf attack on
a human. The 23 year old student is recovering in stable condition in
the hospital here in Victoria. He required 50 stitches to mend his head
wounds.

He was sleeping in front of a fire on Vargas Island on Sunday night.
Other paddlers were present, but the young student was not right near
the others, and was sleeping without benefit of tent. Awakened by a
tugging at his feet, he realized he had been dragged to the other side
of the fire. A dark-colored wolf recognizable from earlier the previous
day, backed off when the kayaker started yelling. It then suddenly
lunged on at the fellow. Covering his head with his sleeping bag proved
insufficient, as the wolf started biting away through the bag. Fending
the hairy beast off with his hand, the wolf bit into that too.

Rolling over to try and place some distance, the wolf simply jumped on
the camping kayaker's back, gnawing away on the hapless fellow's skull.
Shouting louder in desperation for help from the other, sleeping members
of the kayak excursion, they finally came and shouted it away.

A handy VHF was used to summon help at 1:30 am. A power boater in the
area was at least 20 minutes closer than the coast Guard, so removed the
injured paddler after a shoreline search, based on sketchy directions.
Signaling flashlights from shore eventually help guide the small craft
in.The wolf attack victim was loosing blood fast, but was conscious upon
boarding, and was airlifted to Victoria from Tofino. The other kayakers
choose to remain, unafraid of the big bad wolf.

The boat skipper commented that the group was fairly well equipped,
considering the radio, without which the results may have been tragic.
The group was criticized for its ineffectual first aid kit.

Two wolves were subsequently shot by wildlife officers. One kayak
operator in the area commented that he had only seen three wolves in 15
years of tour operations. Longtime residents say wolf populations on
Vancouver Island in general and Tofino area in particular, are
increasing, and are concerned about paddlers using the islands who come
to rough it, yet avoid proper storage of food at night (there has been
no confirmation this aspect yet). Locals suggest people leave an area at
the first sign of wolves, and to carry rocks in their pockets, to be
throw as an additional deterrent method.

------------

The wolf attack victim was interviewed on the local TV, so most of the
above story taken from that TV news cast can be taken as truth, rather
than newspaper drama. It is possible that the wolve suffered some
abnormality or disease.

But like I've said before, be careful out there - on water and off. Now,
if I can just find that conservation office I spoke with in May who told
me this could never ever happen. I had disagreed. I know what can happen
with bears habituated to human contact and the avaliability of food
scrapes, etc. Why not wolves. Well, anything can happen on Vancouver
Island, where one can really get  "closer to nature" than any where
else.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who will take camping near bears and wolves in truly remote
places over a park, any day)

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