Wolf Over Six Feet In Length
Captured By Henry Walter In Ruby – Also Traps Four Wild Cats
– Eau Claire Leader | March 13, 1908

One of the largest wolves killed in Chippewa county was laid low a few days ago by Henry Walter in the town of Ruby. Henry Walter was in the city yesterday afternoon to receive the bounty from County Treasurer Cameron and he stated that the wolf measured six feel four inches from tip to tip and weighed about 150 pounds. The scalp which he exhibited was enormous. Mr. Walter says that he came across a deer carcass in the woods near his home and as he knew there were plenty of wolves and wildcats in that vicinity he set out his traps around the carcass. The next morning the monster wolf was in one trap and four other traps each help a wild cat.

Mr. Walter brought the wolf scalp and the scalps of the wild cats to the courthouse and received $22 in bounties from the county. He will receive an equal amount from the state, making a total of $44.

Chad’s Take

While doing research for the haunted road guide books I had the opportunity to travel through nearly all of the north woods of MN and WI. During this entire time I only encountered one wild wolf and it happened while I was out dog sledding in Ely MN. Although wolves are making a comeback in the north woods, wild sightings are still somewhat rare. But if turn your calendar back 100 years you will see that the citizens of the Chippewa Valley felt that wolves were too plentiful and dangerous and needed to be taken out. Rewards such as the one received by Mr. Walter were set up to encourage residents to hunt and trap wolves. The wolf Mr. Walter captured was truly a huge animal at six-feet-four inches in length and a weight of 150 pounds, the wolf certainly measured up to the largest U.S. wolf on record that weighed 175 pounds.

Arguably the most infamous wolf that ever roamed the Midwest was that of Lobo, a notoriously intelligent wolf that preyed on thousands of deer throughout MN. For over 12 years Lobo evaded numerous hunters and trackers that were looking to claim the $500 bounty placed on Lobo’s head. Finally in 1938 the elusive Lobo was trapped and killed by Algot Wicken. If you are looking to learn more about Lobo, take a little road trip to MN where you can read and hear all about Lobo at Lobo’s Bar and Grill in Lake Itassca. If you want to come face to face with the most feared and respected wolf of MN you can see Lobo’s stuffed body of display outside of the Morell’s Chippewa Trading Post in Bemidji MN. Unfortunately you can not see the wolf that Mr. Walter brought in to Eau Claire, as no one knows what happened to it.

Keep an eye out