In the earlier days of LaPorte County, different types of wildlife roamed the area — some that we’re not likely to see today. Fur-bearing animals were plentiful. Many pioneer settlers of northwestern Indiana were able to pay for their land with the product of the chase. Hiram Todd, one of the men responsible for the purchase of the land that later became LaPorte, acquired certificates for this land and later wrote:
“(Logansport, Sept. 4, 1832) Dear Sir: Please take the enclosed Certificates with their enclosed Wolf Scalps and issue the Patents in my name and verry much oblige. Your Humble Servt, Hiram Todd”
It is noted that these were certificate numbers 205 and 225, and along with the wolf scalps must have been a very bulky package for there were enough to constitute a payment of $259.20 at the rate then fixed by law.
But not all hunters were as successful.
A local wolf hunt occurred in the late fall or early winter of 1843. It was advertised throughout the county, according to a clipping found in the files of the LaPorte County Historical Society. The battle line was to begin in Michigan City, with the hunters taking positions within speaking distance of one another and forming a line along the Michigan Road, eastward 10 miles to Springville and then 10 miles to New Buffalo.
The hunt was well organized to begin promptly at 8 a.m. Every man and boy was instructed to bring with him any old thing that would make a hideous din — tin pans, sheet iron gongs, cow bells, sleigh bells, tin horns, horse fiddles, and other noisy devices. Those unable to furnish instruments were told to “bring their voices and whoop and holler,” while in addition every weapon was to be well loaded, whether shotgun or rifle.
Wile E. Coyote had nothing on early LaPorte County wolves, who seemed to know how to outfox the hunters.
The signal to start was given. The only problem was that there was not a solitary wolf to be seen.
Some years later, during the winter of 1858-59, wolves were numerous in the marshes and swamps of the Kankakee. Farmers were particularly aware of their presence because of the frequent raids on their flocks. It was decided to have a “general round up” and slay as many wolves as possible at once.
But this particular hunt also became a fiasco. The hunting dogs started chasing a fox, and the lone wolf spotted made his escape. The dogs were soon on his trail again, but the hunters decided the long chase wasn’t worth it; all but six of the party gave up and went home.
Some of the farmers in the area had been taking all of the fine ash timber they wanted and had been threatened with prosecution by some non-resident landowners. They were on the lookout for the sheriff for any time. When they saw the crowd of wolf hunters coming straight for the swamp, armed and equipped for mortal combat, they got scared and scattered.
Toward night, it began to snow and darkness soon fell. The wolf’s track was soon lost and so were the hunters — each having his own opinion as to exactly where they were. Finally they arrived at the home of a friend who fed them. They all decided to go home — by the time they arrived it was 2 a.m.
By 1903, the Kankakee wolf hunt had almost become an annual event. However, by that time wolves were so scarce that they were considered harmless and without danger.
But coyotes have recently increased in number in this area … perhaps wolves will return also …
