Wolf activity increases as weather cools

The occasional spotting wolves may not be a particularly rare experience for many in the Northland, but Ely residents were surprised recently by a series of sightings in the city earlier this month.

This is the season when wolf activity typically increases, according to Krista Woerheide, the interpretive center director at the International Wolf Center.

Woerheide told WTIP that as the weather changes, wolves are moving into their breeding season. “Their hormone levels are changing,” she said, “And with the cooler weather, they are just generally more active and a lot more comfortable. They’re definitely designed for cooler weather.”

With most of Minnesota’s nearly 3000 wolves living in the Arrowhead, Woerheide said, “Given that there are that many of them, we really don’t see them super often. But when we do and they’re trotting down the street, it certainly makes the news.”

Wolves typically avoid humans and can scare easily. So what may have attracted the wolves into Ely is unclear. However, Woerheide said, “They can be really curious, and they can also become habituated. So if people are feeding them, either intentionally or unintentionally, if you leave garbage or pet food out or things like that, and it encourages that behavior, and there’s not really a negative consequence that goes along with that, that wolf might return to that same area.”

The wolves spotted in Ely were seen running along roads and walking through populated places. Woerheide said that in the past few days, however, she hasn’t heard further reports of them. She said that could be down to a number of things, whether that was encounters with humans which discouraged the wolves from returning, or the draw of deer bait and gut piles in the woods as deer hunting season has ramped up.

While there has not been a single person killed by a wolf in the lower 48 in recent history, according to Woerheide, she still advised caution around wolves.

Krista Woerheide spoke with Julie Carlson on North Shore Morning. Audio of that interview can be found below.

Kirsten Wisniewski November 20, 2025