Wildlife guides / Wolves
Wolves
Coastal wolves live quietly among us and almost never want anything to do with people. Here's what their presence means and how to respond.
In a hurry? The one-minute version
- Wolves avoid people. A wolf that watches you and leaves is behaving normally.
- Keep dogs leashed — to a wolf, a dog is either a rival or prey.
- Never feed a wolf or leave pet food outside. A fed wolf is a dead wolf.
- If a wolf approaches: stand tall, make noise, back away slowly. Don't run.
- Report bold or unafraid wolves to the Conservation Officer Service.
Wolves here are coastal wolves
A different kind of wolf
BC's coastal wolves are genetically and behaviourally distinct from interior wolves. They're smaller, often reddish or grey-brown, and the sea provides a big part of their diet — salmon, herring roe, beached carcasses, and intertidal food — alongside deer. They swim between islands and along inlets, which is how they turn up in places people don't expect.
Mostly unseen
Wolves on the coast live in small family groups and are active mostly at night. Most people who live here for years never see one — but they see the signs: large dog-like tracks (10+ cm long, in a straight line), scat full of deer hair, and occasionally howling at night.
Wolf or coyote?
Size and shape tell the story
A wolf is much bigger — think a large German shepherd and then some, 30–50 kg, with long legs, a broad head, and big feet. A coyote is half that, with a narrow, pointed face and a bushy tail it carries low. Wolves carry their tails straight out. If it looks like a very big, calm dog that owns the forest, it's a wolf.
If you see a wolf
- At a distance: count yourself lucky — most people never do. Watch quietly, keep your dog close and leashed, and let the wolf leave on its own terms.
- If it seems curious or follows: stand tall, group together, speak in a loud firm voice, and back away slowly. Don't run — running can trigger a chase instinct in any canid.
- If it approaches: make yourself big and loud. Wave your arms, shout, throw sticks or rocks toward it. Wolves that act bold around people need to relearn fear — and need to be reported.
- With a dog: leash it immediately and keep it behind you. Do not let your dog run at or chase a wolf — wolves defend their territory from other canids, and the dog will lose.
Living with wolves
Keep them wild
Wolves get in trouble for one reason: food. Pet food left outside, garbage, compost with meat, or a deer carcass near a trail can teach a wolf that people mean calories. Secure attractants the same way you would for bears, and report any wolf that seems unafraid of people — early reporting is what keeps both wolves and neighbours safe.
Seen a wolf?
Wolf reports matter — they're rare and neighbours want to know. A 20-second, anonymous report. Area only — never your exact address.
Report a sightingA wolf acting bold or unafraid? Call the Conservation Officer Service (RAPP) at 1-877-952-7277 — before reporting here.