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A simple hike turned extraordinary for Carl Brodersen last weekend when he spotted a pack of wolves feeding on a kill on the frozen surface of Salmon Creek Reservoir.
Brodersen, 28, has lived in Juneau his whole life and for the first time he witnessed a pack of 11 wolves feeding and frolicking for roughly 20 minutes, just above the bustle of Juneau.
“I saw Romeo once,” he said, “But then, there it was, all of Verona in front of us.”
Brodersen had decided to go for a hike with a friend, Lou Taylor-Thomas, also of Juneau, last Saturday.
“I realized I’d never been up to Salmon Creek Reservoir in the winter,” he said.
It was when the pair reached the old pump house, the place where the trail forks off a dirt road and onto a singletrack, that they noticed tracks in the snow.
“At first we thought they were just dog tracks,” Brodersen said. “But then, as we hiked further, the human tracks stopped but the tracks continued. That’s when we realized they were wolf.”
The Salmon Creek Trail ends at an overlook, adjacent to a dam, with a broad vista of the reservoir.
Brodersen said it was from this spot they caught sight of some tiny specks of movement at the far end of the lake. He said he didn’t know what they were until he viewed them with the zoom of his camera lens.
The pack of adult wolves was completely oblivious to the presence of the pair. Brodersen said they watched the group for about 20 minutes. The two hikers stayed quiet, he said, but they were also fortunate because the wind was blowing toward them, taking their scent down the valley, instead of toward the pack.
“There was something they were eating, but mostly they were just playing,” he said. “They would bunch up and then scatter about, then bunch up again. It took them a while to notice us.”
When they did, he said, they scattered out of sight and didn’t return, at least not right away.
Ryan Scott, a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said the sighting, while not uncommon, is a very interesting one.
“(It’s interesting) mainly because we just don’t know a lot about the wolves around the Juneau area and they’re not overly visible,” he said.
A few years ago, locals were seeing wolves fairly regularly. Romeo was a regular fixture in the Mendenhall Glacier area, and after his disappearance, a grey wolf was reported in the same area and near Sunny Point. This bold wolf startled residents when it approached rolled down car windows and strolled into front yards. Packs were also observed, mainly from helicopters said Scott, north of town.
“I recall there being about 6 to 8 wolves in that pack at about that time,” Scott said. “(Eleven) is a good size pack.”
Generally speaking, Scott said department experts have theorized that wolves are always present around Juneau.
A few years ago, he said, ADF&G wildlife experts collared three wolves near Berners Bay while doing research on other species. The data they got back indicated the ability of wolves to range fairly dramatically — from Skagway to the Taku River, he said.
“We don’t know much about wolf ecology in the Juneau area. The data demonstrated that they move a lot and they’re around more than we know. They’re just very discrete,” he said. “Salmon Creek Reservoir is pretty remote.”
Scott said it’s hard to know what the pack was feeding on — maybe a mountain goat, a deer or possibly a bear that was out too late. Either way, just seeing the pack is a treat, he said.
“What a great opportunity to be able to see them out on the ice like that,” he said. “This happens more often than we know, but what’s really neat is that someone got to see it.”
• Contact Outdoors Editor Abby Lowell at abby.lowell@juneauempire.com.
Comments (50)
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Thanks for sharing the pictures. But I thought dogs weren't allowed up there, did someone bag the poo?
Still early...
...but, those pelts should have a nice nap on them already. Quite the winter trek for her coat.
Now I know...
Where to find my next pair of fur mittens! Thanks for the tip!
When you see stuff like this
When you see stuff like this while out and about think of it as a gift meant for eyes only.
The last thing, the WORST thing, you can do is to run and tell other people especially people at the empire because of creeps like rough cut.
I've seen lots...
...of wolf sign around Juneau over the years. They're here. Coyotes are present as well. You're not likely to sneak up on them, but, a good varmint caller can catch a glimpse. Of course, "stupid dogs" like Romeo and that grey that hung around DZ are classic examples of 'thinning the herd". Don't want them culled? Don't enable them. Friends of Romeo are directly responsible for his demise. But, if they want to bait this pack, someone will happily restore the balance... Myself included.
a bullet was the demise of
a bullet from stupid people was the demise of Romeo.
.....rough cut skirkz....
Habituation...
...killed Romeo.
rough it was a bullet.There
rough it was a bullet.
There are many wild animals in our parks etc... still standing today.
It was in fact a bullet that killed Romeo not the people that allowed him to be near them.
Bullets...
...put down garbage bears, but, it is habituation that pulls the trigger.
At least... get the facts straight
It was a couple of low-life poachers (Park Myers & Jeff Peacock) that killed Romeo... shooting him with a .22 from Myer's beater-truck in the West Glacier Trail parking lot. I personally know of at least 7 other wolves that had been shot and sealed in the 1-C area around that same general time frame. I seriously doubt that these wolves had all been "habituated".
I hike the Mendenhall Lake area nearly everyday and (except for eagles and ravens) rarely see any wildlife anymore. It used to be allot more interesting. F&G have caught poachers both in Dredge and around Montana Creek, but I think - not soon enough.
If people want to do good
If people want to do good with digital cams etc... track & take pictures of creeps like rough cut skirkz. Get them in action , license plates etc.. everything that will be needed to nail them.
F&G, F&W get some cams up and nab these creeps.
connor
You only need to scroll through these posts to realize your own confusion. There is no such person as "rough cut skirkz". Although, I do admit to be slightly less than polished, I ain't Rough Cut and he ain't skirkz.
AK_Jase
I am as hip to the facts as any news reader in town about the facts. I am, also, aware of the bigger picture not perceived by narrower minds...
Bait 'em!
Dog food and bait dogs combined with human interaction habituated Romeo to the point of making him an easy and available target to illegal hunting practices. But, if you want to feed Kibbles and Beagles to this pack, I will be happy to take advantage of your stupidity. I promise, it will be a legal take.
Retract...
Out of place.
habituation
I agree with Conner in part. The part about how you should shut your yap if you see stuff like this. Part of why you should shut up is because people will go up there and try befriend them. Skirkz is right that habituation kills animals. Bullets kill them as well but it isn't an either/or situation.
If you see a wolf or a pack of wolves, don't tell anybody. Don't tell a hunter and don't tell a greenie that wants to playmate for his dog.
It is said, "A fed bear is a dead bear." That is true of wolves and a host of other wildlife as well.
The good news is that wolves can move pretty fast. Chances are these wolves aren't up there any more so they will likely be safe. That and it's really hard getting to Salmon Lake in the winter and most people around here including trappers get scared when they are more than ten minutes from a motor vehicle.
Romeo was in his native
Romeo was in his native habitat, his dwelling, the Tongass National Forest when Park Myers & Jeff Peacock killed him.
Good Intentions Kill Wolves
Mr. Brodersen..
I am sure that you reported your wolf sightings with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, you are now probably responsible for the death of these wolves, as some of the above comments indicate. There is, I am sad to say, a number of people in Juneau who do not share your love or appreciation for our wonderful and unique wildlife. Please, if you ever see a wolf again, do not mention it to anyone. Especially the media. This community cannot be trusted in this regard, as the senseless slaughter of Romeo demonstrates.
wolves
20 plus years ago when I lived in Juneau there were few if any reports of wolves in the area, same with black bears in town. Must be something to do with a lack of hunting/trapping pressure that has them coming closer to town. Shoot/trap a few of them, then they will get more respect for the human predator and stay away, and out of the garbage cans, etc.
How's that, bigdan?
Do they talk to each other?
I've been here a lot longer than you and wolves and bears have always been a fixture around Juneau. The wolves haven't caused any real problems, most people don't even know they're around.
The bears...well, smack a few garbage can owners and they WILL talk to each other, which will solve the bear problem. Maybe you've forgotten 10 years back when Juneau cops were shooting bears on a regular basis - that was before they were enforcing garbage can ordinances. I credit Mark Farmer with changing all that (remember 'Farmayor'?).
Why is it so important
to be able to trap, snare, or shoot wolves?
Nab 'em
Let's ask the empire to get law enforcement to discover the real people behind the names of the few here who are advocating illegal and dangerous activities - not just advocating but stating their plans to engage in said activities. How 'bout we get the Feds knocking on their doors BEFORE some hiker ends up shot by one of these nitwit's rifles - ?
Most human beings on this planet are against 'killing for fun' - most people respect the sanctity of other living beings within reason - I'm sick & tired of the majority, who are sane people, being held hostage & made grief stricken by the few who are sick and without conscience.
cat: Yes,,, and, no
catandmouse:
Yes, you're right - in general, Romeo's home was the Tongass National Forest. But more specifically, he spent most of his life in the "closed to hunting area" of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreational Area. Though relatively protected, it still didn't save him from serial poachers like Myers and Peacock.
I guess it's not too surprising when people with utter contempt for the law... wind-up breaking it. I've heard stories of people breaking into zoos to poach a trophy rack, and/or just to kill a captive animal. In truth, it's that type of mentality which killed Romeo... not habituation.
It seems highly unlikely that the seven other wolves shot in Game Unit 1-C that year had been habituated. And if even animals locked in a zoo enclosure aren't safe from poachers... where is??
It's apparent
that there are strong feelings regarding wolves here, just from the comments and ratings.
For once I agree with skirkz---People, trying to make Romeo into some sort of exotic pet, killed Romeo, through habituation, making him a victim to two humans with no scruples, an all too common phenomenon.
Now others, with equally good intentions, have just rung the dinner bell for the predator one rung up from the wolf; and yet, like Dust and Lat I have to wonder at the imperative to kill wolves that seems ingrained in so many.
The wolf is the poster child for the difference in cultures, a wedge issue duly exploited by cultural warriors all too happy to pull the trigger when the opportunity presents itself, as it did in the case of Romeo...
And the other "side" doesn't seek to exploit, necessarily---It just naively plays into the hands of those who do, by trying to make the wonders of the non-human world available to more humans, without seeing the deadly paradox which exists for the subject matter, in this case wild wolves.
It's a shame that Brodersen
It's a shame that Brodersen felt a need to brag about seeing the wolf pack. The trade off for him getting his name in the paper is the death of those wolves. As is demonstrated by some of the posters, there are plenty of people out there that before they kill a wild animal they first want to see it trapped, tortured and writhing in pain before they put it out of its misery. The thrill of seeing an animal in pain before executing it, must give them a real sense of power, sick power. Brodersen, YOU will be as guilty for the death of any of those wolves as those that will eventually kill them.
Get the traps
The traps and snares can be found and sprung. Cover you face and tracks too.
Cindy - I agree and hope that
Cindy - I agree and hope that it's being done.
Anyone can put up a recording device on these trails. I think asking the Forrest Service or CBJ to do it is a good idea. I would like to see the city invest heavily into recording devices, get them up. It is a cost effective way to nab people doing all kinds of stuff.
A recording device needs to be put up at Auke Rec and nab the hunter that tosses deer remains down the hill every Oct/Nov.
We can all record and push back on the nasty that is growing in Juneau.
Not so Hard
For many years I ran a line on the upper Coleville and had no problem getting wolves there. But I would be ashamed to say I took any so close to town
Wolves are not Mystical Creatures!! They are Meat eaters
OMG... This is awesome!!
You are all soo funny with the save the wolves speaches!!!
F&G need to put up cameras in the wild to make sure we catch the evil doers in the process!! (Great Idea!! I know I do)
One person wrote: Traps can be sprung!! cover your tracks and your face while doing it though... The reason is, It is illeagle to mess with another persons trap sites or mess with hunters in the field...
Why would you break the law? That makes you a criminal and no better then a poacher.
There are a lot of us that trap by the laws & seal our animals as required. A lot of us teach good trapping methods to youth.
I personaly have many hidden game cameras in the field watching my gear & trails for people like this. Most of my cameras will send photo instant via text/email so your caught before you get close to my trap site. Straight up I will turn in anyone I photo damaging or springing my traps at any of my trapping locations. This is Juneau and with a photo and facebook you can find anyone here!
There is a lot of wolves in the Juneau area if you know where to look. I also agree they are very hard to trap and move threw a great amount of territory looking for game.They wont be in that creek drainage for long till they scare the game out and move out to find their next kill. The wolves have huge territory and travel as much as 50 miles a day easy. They are there one day and gone the next! The person was really lucky to see that pack moving in the day so close to town.
Anyone who spends any amount of time in the woods around here knows we have wolves & some are not so shy of humans..
Good luck trappers,
I better go check my Salmon Creek sets
Well...
I don't recall anyone in the posts above claiming that wolves are mystical, although maybe I missed it. In any case, "mystical" and "meat-eater" are not antonyms, and thus the latter in no way constitutes a sufficiently logical refutation of the former.
But I am curious - why do you think save the wolves 'speaches' [sic] are funny?