The Big Bad Wolf

1. Check the cows
2. Make myself some tea
3. Check my site meter and see I'm getting visitors
4. Already know what I'm going to write


On Saturday night we were watching TV when suddenly we heard a banging noise. It wasn't something crashing inside the house, but rather an echoing boom outside. We looked out the window but didn't see anything. The next morning, our neighbour Teresa Johnson called. She told me that her husband, Greg, shot a wolf and asked if we wanted to come see it.

We knew immediately the wolf she was talking about. Neighbours on all sides of us have caught a glimpse of it over the last few weeks. It has been living in the croppings of bush that separate our farms from one another. The dogs have been restless and behaving strangely. While out checking the cows at night, the yips of coyotes could be heard until one howl from the wolf in response turned the air silent. His large, unmistakable tracks were seen in the snow near where our cows are turned out with their young calves.

The occasional wolf has passed through our area over the years but this one is the first I am aware of that had taken up residence. It is an unfortunate fact that all of us have calves that die this time of year, bringing predators closer to our farms to find easy access to food. That supply will dry up very soon. When that happens, the young calves could easy become prey.

Greg explained that he was coming back from the barn with their two young children after checking the cows. He saw the wolf just on the other side of the yard fence. Wolves in paintings are nice to look at. Wolf pups playing in the wilderness on TV are fun to watch. A wolf a few hundred yards from where your children play is frightening.

The boom we heard the night before was Greg's gun. People debate all the time whether or not farmers should be allowed to kill predators on their farms. But until you've seen a bear or wolf near the house, you don't fully realize how startling it is. Predators are left alone when they keep to themselves in the bush. When they become too comfortable and venture into the farmyard, they've left their territory and now are in ours. The safety of our families is the first concern and then the well-being of our livestock.

And in case you're wondering, yes, it was a registered gun.