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Cameras Capture B.C. Sea Wolves Hauling Crab Traps, Fueling Tool-Use Debate

Researchers launch continuous monitoring to study the behavior's spread.

Overview

  • Video from Bella Bella shows a wolf bringing a buoy to shore, grasping the line, hauling a submerged trap within reach, and then eating the bait.
  • A second wolf was filmed performing the same sequence this year, raising the possibility of social learning within the local pack.
  • Some experts argue the behavior does not meet strict definitions of tool use, while others describe clear problem-solving and cause‑and‑effect reasoning.
  • The Haíɫzaqv/Heiltsuk Guardians installed the cameras after repeated damage to crab traps used in a European green crab control effort.
  • Researchers have dedicated 24/7 cameras and are adjusting trapping strategies to limit damage without disrupting the invasive‑species study.