Canadian wolf demonstrates remarkable intelligence by hauling crab trap from water to access bait

In a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape our understanding of wolf intelligence, researchers in British Columbia have documented the first potential case of tool use by a wild gray wolf. The remarkable behavior was captured on camera when a wolf systematically hauled a submerged crab trap from coastal waters to reach the herring bait inside.

The discovery emerged from an unexpected source: an Indigenous-led conservation program. Haíɫzaqv guardians working to remove invasive European green crabs from British Columbia’s coastline noticed their traps were being repeatedly damaged. Initially suspecting bears or other large mammals, researchers were puzzled when they found damaged traps that remained fully submerged even during low tide, suggesting marine animals like seals or otters might be responsible.

To solve the mystery, scientists placed a camera trap near a frequently damaged location. The footage revealed surprising behavior: a wolf swimming to shore while gripping the trap’s rope in her mouth, methodically pulling the entire apparatus onto land, opening it, and extracting the bait. “We figured maybe we’ll see a seal nearby,” explained study lead author Kyle Artelle from the State University of New York. Instead, they witnessed what appears to be sophisticated problem-solving behavior.

This observation suggests the wolf understood that food was contained within the submerged, hidden trap and developed a strategy to access it. The behavior demonstrates remarkable cognitive abilities and adaptability, potentially representing the first documented case of tool use in wild wolves—a finding that adds new dimensions to our understanding of canine intelligence and environmental adaptation.