Grey Wolf Sighting

This morning we let Dobby (our dog) out and like she often does, she took off toward the livestock pens in pursuit of something we couldn't see.  Within seconds, we saw what looked like a large, dark coyote run away from the pens with Dobby in hot pursuit.  Immediately following Dobby was a second large, dark creature.

We called Dobby back as quickly as we could.  I grabbed the pellet gun (which wouldn't have done anything, so I'm not sure why I grabbed it) and J took off in the car trying to head the animals off at the road.  Dobby came back a few minutes later, limping.

I tried to check her hind end and she promptly peed on the entryway floor.  Apparently, whatever had tried to bite her did not get a latch on her.  She was unhurt.  But she was definitely upset.  She hasn't peed on the floor since she was a puppy.

J and I talked about what we had seen.  We assumed that they were just very well fed coyotes...until a neighbor said that he had heard a rumor of a coyote/wolf hybrid in the area.  We checked with the ODFW website and found out that there are actually wolves that have been tracked near our area.  After staring at photo after photo of grey wolf, we decided that what we saw today must've been a pair of wolves.

A Grey Wolf

We've been considering buying a 22 for the house.  We're now thinking that a thirty-ott-six might be more appropriate.  Of course, we would never shoot a wolf as they are protected by the state and the feds.  But we might shoot toward them if they try to take down any of our livestock.