“A guy waits his whole life for such a naturally talented dog,” a Wisconsin hunter wrote to the state’s Department of Natural Resources, mourning the loss of his “irreplaceable” dog, Rusty. Wolves had killed the Bluetick-Walker hound on public land in the state in October 2022. “I would not have sold him for any price. It would be like putting a price on one of my kids.”

If it’s determined that a wolf killed a hunting dog in Wisconsin, the owner may receive up to $2,500 in compensation, and if a wolf injures a dog, money may be awarded to help cover veterinary expenses. Rusty, whose owner got the full $2,500, was one of about 20 hunting dogs the state compensated