A marauding wolf on Texada Island has been destroyed after being in close proximity to islanders’ residences and livestock.
Powell River conservation officer Andrew Anaka said this is only the second wolf that has been known to have been killed on Texada Island. The first one was killed about four years ago by the same hunter who shot this wolf.
Anaka said the conservation office had been receiving calls from Texada for about the last six or eight months about wolf sightings on the island.
“It’s pretty unusual,” said Anaka. “It was in close proximity to many of the residences and it was enough to concern people.”
Anaka said the conservation service wasn’t going to take any overt action because it’s a naturally occurring event.
He said wolves can swim and on occasion get to some of the islands on the BC coast. The nearest point to Texada Island from Powell River is Black Point, which is about 4.4 kilometres from the island.
“These animals are really good swimmers,” said Anaka. “There’s no other way to get there.”
This wolf was lawfully killed. There is a hunting season on wolves and the hunter had the appropriate licence. Anaka said the wolf was probably living on the large population of deer on Texada. He characterized the animal as “a large male, fat, sassy, happy wolf.”
The wolf weighed 113 pounds.
The hunter, who asked not to be identified, said having a wolf on the island changes the dynamics for many residents, who have animals the wolf would prey upon. Many people let their livestock wander free because there aren’t many predators, other than eagles and raccoons. That is why he decided to dispatch the wolf.
The hunter saw the wolf right outside his living room window on Thursday, March 28, about 100 yards from the house. There were turkeys in the front yard and the wolf was chasing deer at the time. The wolf had killed one of the hunter’s turkeys, and he also found four deer carcasses in the adjoining property.
The hunter said it was evident the wolf was living close to Texada Island residences and killing a deer every two or three days. He added that a wolf does not fit into the picture on Texada Island.
