What To Do If You Come Face-To-Face With A Wolf In Your Yard

North America is home to a number of dangerous types of wolves. These feral canines exist throughout all of Canada and within about a third of the continental United States. Additionally, after being extirpated from much of their natural range in the early 1900s, the wolf population has been steadily climbing in recent years. At the same time, the number of people living in these areas is increasing as well. In fact, Canada, which has the world's largest wolf population, also has one of the fastest-growing populations of people on the planet.

Given those factors, it seems like simple statistical probabilities for those living in the U.S. or Canada: more people plus more wolves equals more encounters between wolves and people. With that in mind, most people who adventure outdoors in wolf territory have become aware of what to if do they run into a wolf in the wilderness. But, not many give much thought as to what to do if you come face-to-face with a wolf in your yard.

If you are just going about your day and you happen to come face-to-face with a wolf in your yard, your immediate thoughts may harken back to the infamous Big Bad Wolf from "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood." While that fictional wolf appears frequently in and around homes, the real creatures are much more reluctant to do so. However, every so often, a real-life wolf will appear in someone's yard. So, it is important you know how you should react to a wolf in your yard should you have such a chance encounter.

According to the Alaska Department of Game and Fish, the best reaction is an aggressive one. The reaction is very similar to what is suggested to do if you encounter a coyote. What is often referred to as coyote hazing, can work on wolves as well. This involves standing your ground, making a lot of noise, trying to make yourself appear large and aggressive, and throwing rocks, sticks or other objects in the direction of the wolf. At the same time, you need to make your way slowly to the safety of your house or car while maintaining eye contact. It is important that you gather any small children or pets and keep them near you as soon as you spot the wolf. If you already are indoors and see a wolf in your yard, bring pets and children indoors and call animal control.

Of course, the best way to make sure you don't come face-to-face with a wolf in your yard is to take steps to avoid attracting them and to make it difficult for them to gain entry. The key to making your yard less attractive to a wolf is making sure there are no potential meals in your yard. This not only means ensuring meaty leftovers are not tossed into the yard or compost pile, but also smaller animals like rabbits or mice, which wolves feed on, are not drawn into your lawn by garden vegetables, compost, food waste, or a water source. It is also important to make sure pets and livestock have an indoor sleeping area overnight, even if it is a garage or barn.

To keep wolves out of your yard, start by cutting down any low-lying shrubs or brush or high grass, which wolves can use as cover. Placing lights around the perimeter of your property will help keep wolves from entering at night, while erecting a fence can help keep wolves away 24-hours a day. However, in order to be effective against wolves the fence should be tall -– six to eight feet high –- and buried at least a foot into the ground. Electric fences are another effective option, which are often a more practical solution than a tall perimeter fence.