Wolf scrape

[tuffcrk14]

I came across this while hunting elk on an old abandoned logging road high up along the top of a ridge in NW Montana this last weekend. Best I could figure was that it was a moose that made this scrape since it did not smell like elk pee in the scrape (Not totally sure moose do this anyway, but there was moose sign close by). I sent these pictures to an area biologist and he talked with several other biologists about this and they came to the conclusion that it was a wolf scrape/marking area. Anyone ever seen or heard of wolves doing this? Everyone I’ve talked to said they’ve never seen or heard of this type of thing from a wolf before.


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[Chris_in_Idaho]

It would be interesting to put a trail cam there for a while.

 

[N.ID7803]

Looks like it could be a spot where someone has/had placed a foothold trap maybe.

 

[Erict]

Never heard of wolves doing such a thing. Looks a lot like a turkey dusting bowl.

 

[Legend]

Put a leg hold near it and you should find out if it is a wolf.

 

[Fronttrack]

I have seen those also, on closed logging roads. I am not sure if they see in it then roll, or roll then pee.

 

[tuffcrk14]

I have seen those also, on closed logging roads. I am not sure if they see in it then roll, or roll then pee.

There was a long black hair in the bottom of it and the hole was compacted as if whatever did it had rolled in it. Are you in Montana or Idaho where you are seeing these?


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[Deadfall]

Dogs dig all the time. Ever seen a dog of any form that didn't atleast attempt to dig then roll around? Serves a couple purposes for wolves. One is cooling off. also serves as concealment, lots of times a wolf or coyote will lay flat in tall grass and let you/prey animals go right by. Serves as a communication spot. Every time one comes by the smell and mark. Everyone knows whose around that way.

 

[Coach529]

I came across this while hunting elk on an old abandoned logging road high up along the top of a ridge in NW Montana this last weekend. Best I could figure was that it was a moose that made this scrape since it did not smell like elk pee in the scrape (Not totally sure moose do this anyway, but there was moose sign close by). I sent these pictures to an area biologist and he talked with several other biologists about this and they came to the conclusion that it was a wolf scrape/marking area. Anyone ever seen or heard of wolves doing this? Everyone I’ve talked to said they’ve never seen or heard of this type of thing from a wolf before.


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Very interesting. I ran into this on an old logging road a couple weeks back. I am in Northewrn Idaho. Unit 3.

 

[tuffcrk14]

I showed a game warden these pictures and he goes, “well you know some people have dropped their pistols in the back country before and that’s quite a find for it to be in that condition.” I said, “Dude, I laid my pistol there for a size reference to that scrape I was just describing to you.” SMH


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[tuffcrk14]

Dogs dig all the time. Ever seen a dog of any form that didn't atleast attempt to dig then roll around? Serves a couple purposes for wolves. One is cooling off. also serves as concealment, lots of times a wolf or coyote will lay flat in tall grass and let you/prey animals go right by. Serves as a communication spot. Every time one comes by the smell and mark. Everyone knows whose around that way.

That makes a lot of sense and thank you for the input. I plan on putting a camera over that spot next spring and letting it sit until archery season to see how they interact with it or if they stopped using that scrape. The road I found it on is fairly travelled by other critters too.


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