FP13 Gray Wolf, Southeast Alaska

wwolf1d.jpg (79551 bytes)

Featured Photo 13 -- Gray Wolf, Southeast Alaska
(Canis Lupus)

Canon EOS 1V HS
Canon EF 500mm L IS USM
Canon EF 1.4X II Extender

I have always wanted to photograph a wolf in the wild, but have never had anything close to an opportunity until I visited Southeast Alaska in July, 2003.

My previous attempts to find wolves were not very productive -- I didn't see any in Denali or Glacier, and only saw them at great distances in Yellowstone.

We were in southeast Alaska to photograph bears and eagles feeding on spawning salmon. In a typical year the fish run would start around Independence Day, and by mid-July, the best stretches of creek would be full of splashing fish -- attracting grizzly bears, black bears, and bald eagles. This year, however, the fish run was a couple of weeks late, and only a few of the huge Chum Salmon were at the spawning grounds when we arrived in mid-July.

Disappointment over the lack of fish and bear activity was quickly forgotten the second evening. As we waited for bears to appear, a wolf came out of the brush and entered the creek about 200 yards downstream. It paused to look back in our direction, and then proceeded to chase after fish. I made some quick record shots at 500mm, and was in the process of adding the 2X extender when the wolf disappeared around a bend in the creek.

(Wolves fishing for salmon is a rare phenomenon that had never been observed at this location until 2001, when a pack of five wolves came to fish for a few weeks. Unfortunately I was photographing in the Canadian Rockies at the time and didn't hear about it until after the spawning season was over. In 2002 there was no confirmed wolf sighting at the creek.)

The following morning the wolf reappeared on the near bank of the creek, and although it came within 50 yards of where we were set up, it was very secretive and wary -- staying behind brush, never fully exposing itself. I was able to squeeze off four frames when it stopped and looked in our direction. The photo shown above was taken horizontally and cropped into a vertical image to better match the composition. There are two other frames where the wolf is less hidden by vegetation, but I prefer the above image because it better illustrates the animal's secretive nature.

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