Posted on 11/18/2025 11:37:20 AM PST by Red Badger
Heiltsuk First Nation fisherman in British Columbia kept finding their underwater crab traps looted, even the ones out in deeper waters, so they asked researchers Kyle Artelle and Paul Paquet for help.
The pair of researchers set up cameras along the Bella Bella coast to keep an eye on the traps, figuring it must be some marine animal diving for the traps.
Here's what they found:
Yep, sea wolves (a subspecies of grey wolf that lives on a marine diet) were diving into the water, swimming out, dragging the trap buoys back to shore, and pulling the rope of the trap up until they could eat whatever was inside.
The CBC reports,
‘We had to pick our jaws off the floor,' Artelle said.
‘We know that they're really, really smart, but it hadn't crossed our mind that, oh, maybe a wolf is swimming out to the deeper traps and bringing the buoy to shore, pulling the line up just like a person would.'
The researchers think that perhaps the wolves found the traps at low tide, mentally connected the buoys and the ropes to food, and then taught the skill to other members of the pack.
Their findings were published in scientific journal Ecology and Evolution, as the first known use of tools by a wolf for hunting, and they've now added 24-7 cameras to the site and replaced the crab traps with a little hardier variety, so they can continue to study the wolves' behavior.
‘Some really special things are happening here, and we want to understand more about that. What else is happening on the ground? What else do these wolves have to teach us? And so that's a focus for the next decades as we explore more about wolves here,' Artelle said.
‘This is really just the tip of the iceberg.'
As for what the Heiltsuk First Nation fishermen are going to do about their crab fishing now that the area has become a wolf-study project site, no one knows.
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Back when I was crabbing in the local bay, the “sea wolves” used outboard boats and were either locals or stationed at the nearby Naval base with scuba gear. Lost thousands of $$ a week and had to stop fishing in the local bay.
When my mini Dachshund watches me, I worry...
Saw a sticker on the back window of a minivan this pas weekend with the outline of a Dachshund on it and below it:
Death From The Ankles Down!..................
p
Fisher-Wolves ,LOL
There is a lot we don’t understand about the animal world. Thanks for posting.
What state?
In Florida it $2500 fine last I knew to even mess with someone’s crab trap.
They was an incident here about ten years ago where a tourist from out of state was observed on his PWC pulling up a float with a crab trap attached to show it to others and a Florida Fish and Wildlife office witnessed it.
Cost the tourist $2500. Went to court and he claimed he didn’t know about the law, which was true, but that excuse doesn’t ever work. Still had to pay...............
Just hope they don’t get guns..................
You should. Dogs are stinkin’ smart, but prefer that we humans do not know.
The first Sea Wolf to discover this must have been thrilled. Wait until I tell the pack about this !
If only the wolves can be taught to make crab bisque and share with us.
What state?
—
Washington. Complaining to F&W would only make them want a cut of the booty. Rotten bunch.
I had the G.I. Joe Sea Wolf when I was kid. It was cool, but definitely not as smart as these wolves!
Neat story.
Democrats are such evil bastards.................
Bad dog!!
Jack London’s “Sea Wolf”. I thought, but didn’t figure out why the ship was named that.
Good boy.
Ha haaaaaas! Good boy!
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