Wolf Encounter

It was the spring of 1994 in the upper peninsula of Michigan, The township of Delaware on route 41.

I'm not sure what the wolf population in the area was at the time, or if the Department of Natural Resources were even admitting there was a pack there, but I do know that on a return trip from the town of Copper Harbor, I did in fact see a very large wolf cross route 41 in front of me.

When I first spotted the animal it was running down the side of the road which gave me some time to breach the distance between us. When it finally turned and crossed it was only 20 or 30 yards in front of me and when I was at the point where it had crossed, I had slowed my vehicle down to walking speed. Surely, I thought the animal would be long gone but it had not disappeared into the thick undergrowth as I had expected. Instead, it was right there, just off the road, looking back at me. I was amazed, to say the least!

I probably only had a few seconds to observe him as I sat in my vehicle at a full stop on route 41. I was lucky in that during the whole encounter, My truck was the only vehicle around.

During my quick observation the first thing I noticed was his size. He was huge! Long body, long legs and a very, very large head! Perhaps I didn't make any calculations to body size because I was riveted to that magnificent head and the docile, and almost friendly eyes looking back at me. There was no hostility or fright about his posture. Also, I spent a valuable second looking at his tail. Again, there was no signs of aggression, subordination, or fear. The tail was hanging straight down in a relaxed, normal position.

The only other thing I observed was his color which was very dark gray with white lines of fur around the mouth and eyes and a triangular patch of white on his chest.

That whole observation may have only lasted 3 or 4 seconds and I am amazed I soaked in as much about him as I did. I was very fortunate that day to actually see a glimpse of him running down the road. I was in awe that he actually stopped and gave me the opportunity to study him briefly.

I was determined to study wolves further and I spent the next several years going to places where there were reported packs, but it was not until 1997 before I would see another wolf in the wild. That sighting? Another story for another time! Please visit this site again soon. I will be adding the story in the near future!!!