Wolf-like creature roaming Philadelphia park
Pennsylvania wildlife officers have broken out the cages and tranquilizer darts in an attempt to catch a wolf-like creature who has started calling Philadelphia’s Pennypack Park home.
The animal, most likely a wolf hybrid that escaped or was abandoned, started showing up at the park about three months ago.
Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser said that, though the animal hasn’t attacked anyone, they are taking the situation seriously.
“Any animal that has wild instincts does have the potential to be aggressive,” he said.
Whether it’s a wolf-dog hybrid won’t be known for certain until DNA can be tested, he told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Feaser cautioned residents to stay away, and not to feed the creature.
Staff from the Wolf Sanctuary in Lititz, Pa., were also attempting to capture the creature, which “got a little wobbly” after eating a hot dog they provided, laced with tranquilizers. Whenever anyone got close though, the animal retreated into the woods.
Sharon Newman Ehrlich, a high school biology teacher who lives near the park and has seen the creature several times, said it seemed “very docile, not dangerous at all.”
When it approached her lhasa apso-poodle mix, all it did was take a sniff.
(Photo: Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia Inquirer)
Posted by jwoestendiek June 27th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animals, darts, dog, dogs, game commission, hybrid, pennsylvania, pennypack park, pets, philadelphia, tranquilizer, traps, wildlife, wolf, wolf dog, wolf dog hybrid, wolf sanctuary
Comments
Comment from Anne’n'Spencer
Time June 27, 2012 at 9:20 am
I find the idea of a wolflike creature roaming the wilds of Pennypack Park to be strangely compelling.
I would bet money that it is an “Eastern Coyote,” or coyote-wolf hybrid. There is an interesting website about these critters: http://www.easterncoyoteresearch.com/ . I also remember reading something in the paper, but that was years and years ago. They do exist, and they’re around. As I recall from that article, they incorporate genetic contributions from wolves (eastern and western), coyotes, and even domestic dogs.
I would also be a bit worried about any possibly wild creature that appeared “docile” or “friendly.” I would worry that it was sick, and I would stay away from it and keep my dog away from it. Of course it could be somebody’s pet wolf/dog, but they won’t know for sure until it’s evaluated.
I hope they are able to catch it and that it’s provided with decent, compassionate care. It would really be interesting to know what’s in its genetic makeup.
Comment from grace
Time October 1, 2012 at 1:21 pm
like it
Comment from James Lewis
Time June 27, 2012 at 8:10 am
Here’s a hint……they were here first!! It’s their natural habitat, why do humans think all is theirs. Selfish, if it walked up on another dog and did nothing then why try to tranqilize and move??