A Vancouver Island group that’s centered on reuniting house owners with their misplaced four-legged relations is presently attempting to catch a supposed “wolf-dog.”
The wolf-dog is unfastened within the small group of Coombs, which is roughly a 15-minute drive north of Nanaimo.
The group, which is called FLED or Find Lost and Escaped Dogs, is working to try to safely lure the wolf-dog.
“We set up a feeding station first, like a kennel that a dog is used to, and then we might swap it out for a live trap,” Gary Shade, FLED’s co-founder, mentioned.
Shade mentioned he first heard of the wolf-dog within the space by means of a resident, who has wolf dogs herself. She had tried to catch the unfastened animal along with her reside lure however a small bear was caught as an alternative, and broke the lure.
“She put out a plea for another trap. I got ahold of her and told her we have a trap that size and a trail camera,” Shade mentioned. “We went out there and set it up, and sure enough, about three or four days (later) it came around.”
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Shade mentioned the wolf-dog is wise and received’t fall for the lure, as it might be being fed elsewhere or could also be getting its fill on native meals sources like rabbits. He mentioned it’s believed the roughly 68-kilogram canine was deserted on the finish of September and should have been at the least partially domesticated earlier than changing into an excessive amount of for its proprietor.
He is issuing a warning to native canine house owners to maintain their pets on a leash when within the space, as a number of dogs have been injured in interactions with the unfastened animal.
The canine has been dubbed WD-40 by rescuers, WD for wolf-dog and 40 for oil because the animal is sort of “slippery” to catch.
As to how precisely the group is aware of it’s a wolf-dog and never a wolf, Shade mentioned the group has been in fixed contact with the BC Conservation Officer Service and wolf consultants, who advised him by means of their pictures that it’s certainly a wolf canine.
Shade additionally mentioned somebody has been taking down its warning indicators at native canine walking spots, warning the hazards of the unfastened animal.
The group mentioned it has involuntarily been tasked with wrangling the canine. Shade mentioned animal management won’t deal with it as a result of it’s half wolf, and the BC Conservation Officer Service received’t contact it as a result of it’s half canine.
“It’s right in the middle … so it’s kind of up to private people to (deal with),” Shade mentioned. “Hopefully we will get him.”
Shade mentioned the wolf-dog roams about 170 acres throughout Coombs.
Global News has reached out to the BC Conservation Officer Service for extra info.
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