There are still sightings being reported of a lone wolf or coyote that has been hanging around Highway 637 in Killarney.
Photos and videos of the animal first emerged on social media back in July and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry warned the public not to feed the animal.
Wolf educator and author, Suzanne Charron, spent time in Killarney, observing the animal (photos of which Sudbury.com sent to MNRF for identification; the ministry said it couldn't positively say if the animal was a wolf or a coyote). She said it could possibly be a young Algonquin wolf.
"Usually fearless wolves are young because they are inexperienced and don't know to stay away from humans," Charron told Sudbury.com this week.
"I've seen him. He's come to the car and he seems tame and you are almost tempted to stroke him like you would with your pet a dog. But a fearless wolf is very unpredictable.
"You never know when it could turn on a person and attack."
Charron, who studied at the International Wolf Centre in Minnesota, said the best thing to do is discourage the animal and make it find food elsewhere, away from the highway, but most importantly, away from people.
"He has already made the association that humans and food go together and that is a dangerous scenario," Charron said. "By making (the wolf) feel unwelcome, it will have to search elsewhere for food and hopefully it will learn to hunt, if it hasn't already, before winter."
Charron said the wolf has an off-set jaw, but appears otherwise to be in good health.
"He's not that thin and his fur seems okay. He doesn’t appear to have any obvious parasites and he definitely doesn't have rabies."
If you are out on a hike and come across a coyote, wolf or fox, the MNRF recommends you keep your distance and the animal will most likely avoid you. Wolves are shy and generally avoid humans, but they can lose that fear of people if they learn to associate humans with easily available food.
Tips to discouraging wolves:
• Make noise, carry a whistle or bear banger
• Never approach or touch a wild animal
• Do not turn your back or run from a wild animal
• Back away from the animal while remaining calm
• Stand tall, wave your hands, and make lots of noise
• Carry a flashlight at night
• If a wild animal poses an immediate threat or danger to public safety — call 911
If you are in a vehicle and see an animal such as a wolf on the roadway:
• Slow down and sound your horn is a series of short bursts
• Do not stop to feed the animal or attempt to approach it
