Wolf Encounters Lead To Fear In Ely

For a growing number of people living close to wilderness areas, dangerous wolf encounters and pets being lost to wolves, are an increasing cause of concern. These reports, plus a recent situation in which a woman in Alaska was killed by a wolf pack, are contributing to mounting fear. "Can you let your little kids play in your yard? I certainly wouldn't," said Gary Mitchell of Ely. Many Ely residents are on full alert, keeping a close eye on their children as they play outside; others are thinking twice before letting pets run free. Ely authorities confirm more than five dogs have been killed and eaten by wolves in the last three months. "What happened in Alaska...I'd say the odds are that it will happen again," said Ely Mayor, Roger Skraba. Mayor Skraba says reports of wolf sightings in the area are growing daily. "I've noticed a lot more wolves than ever before, and we've all tolerated them; we've always put up, 'ok they're part of the fabric and they're protected,' but now it's come to the point where when you have two timber wolves walking down the main street, well Chapman Street, of Ely, and a guy going to work walking to his butcher job and he looks over and sees these two wolves walking with him," he said. The fear has now led to legal action. An Ely man and an Aitken County cattle farmer have filed a lawsuit asking that wolves be removed from the endangered species list. They want the state to manage the population. "This all started probably the day that the wolf was drinking out of my birdbath," said Gerald Tyler of Ely who filed the lawsuit...more