Wolf spotted Saturday on city's Florence Street?

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Ironwood - Ironwood resident Charlie Semo said a close encounter with what he believes was a wolf on Saturday night has him worried for the safety of children in the city.

Semo said he stood about 50 feet away from a big black animal around 11 p.m. at his house at 513 Florence St., near the Lindquist Electric business that's on U.S. 2.

Semo said he has seen wolves in the wild and there's no doubt in his mind the animal was a wolf.

He said he called 911 and a Department of Natural Resources officer and local wolf expert Donald Lonsway responded.

"I could put my entire hand in the track," Semo said. There was ample snow at the site so the track could be photographed.

Lonsway said the snow had a hard crust, however, and he could not confirm that the tracks were from a wolf. He said tracks that could be followed over a longer stretch of ground would have been more helpful.

Semo said he called 911 after his wife, Deborah, put out the dogs, then started screaming and he then spotted the animal. The Semos have two beagles and a chocolate labrador.

He said a Michigan Department of Natural Resources officer was sent out shortly after the call.

Lonsway has been monitoring coyote problems in the city, including residential deer kills.

With both the Luther L. Wright K-12 School and walking trail not far from where the animal was spotted, Semo said he wants the public to be aware of the incidents because he's concerned about the safety of children, although wolf attacks are extremely rare.

"I wouldn't let my dog out unattended at night," he said. Semo added that the DNR officer advised him to get the word out to keep all food sources, including dog food, inside and away from any predators.

The Ironwood Public Safety Department received a Sunday complaint from Dave Nezworski, of 520 E. Oak St., in Norrie Location, of a fresh deer kill. He said there is a predator problem in that area.

Lonsway responded to that deer kill and said it was the work of a coyote. He said the deer kills in the city, including one in the cemetery and one behind Cloverland Cinemas, thus far have been attributed to coyotes, which seem to be getting bolder.

An IPSD report said a DNR officer was scheduled to remove the dead deer in Norrie.

On Feb. 16, the IPSD received a report that a lab that had been let out at night by an elderly woman at 522 E. Houk St. was attacked. It came home with a severe leg injury that required surgery.

A veterinarian at first said the injuries were consistent with an animal attack, but later said it appeared as if the dog had been struck by a car.