A 72-year-old man identified only as Salahub has gone public after being bitten by a wolf while conducting a routine walk around his truck near Cameco’s Key Lake mill, officials and the victim said.
Immediate aid from another driver likely prevented worse
The man suffered a deep bite to his calf and was bleeding heavily, according to a report of the incident. He managed to pull himself into his truck before the wolf could do further damage.
A passing truck driver with first-responder experience stopped and provided more effective first aid than the victim’s improvised dressing. The Good Samaritan used supplies from his own first-aid kit and another truck’s kit to clean and properly wrap the wound, helping stabilize the man for transport.
The injured man later received medical attention at Cameco’s Key Lake mill and was subsequently seen by a doctor at a hospital. As a precaution, he is being treated for rabies because it is still unknown whether the wolf was rabid.
Conservation officers continue investigation
The Saskatchewan Conservation Officer Service’s Wildlife Human Attack Response Team is investigating the incident. Officials have not yet released details on the wolf’s behaviour, location specifics beyond the Key Lake area, or whether the animal will be located and tested for rabies.
“I am 72 years old and I was fortunate enough to be able to get away from it. I’m suffering a little bit right now, but it’s not going to deter me. I want people to have the facts. It was unprovoked.”
The victim has said the attack was entirely unprovoked and that he was performing a visual walk-around of his vehicle at the time. He stressed he had done nothing to provoke the wolf, adding that he didn’t even have a cigarette in his hand.
Wolf attacks in Saskatchewan are uncommon
Provincial records indicate attacks by wolves on people are rare. Over the past 22 years, there have been four documented wolf attacks in Saskatchewan, with one fatality. While the risk remains low, this episode underscores that encounters can occur, particularly in northern and resource-industry work zones where people and wildlife overlap.
- Victim: Salahub, 72, trucker
- Wound: deep bite to the calf, heavy bleeding
- Immediate care: by passing trucker with first-aid supplies
- Medical follow-up: treated at Key Lake mill, hospital visit, rabies prophylaxis
- Investigation: Saskatchewan Conservation Officer Service Wildlife Human Attack Response Team
What to do if you encounter a wolf
Authorities generally advise people to remain calm, avoid turning your back or running, make yourself appear larger, and slowly back away to a safe place. If an attack occurs, seek immediate medical attention and report the incident to the Conservation Officer Service so the animal can be assessed for disease and public risk.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Cameco’s Key Lake mill (northern Saskatchewan) |
| Victim age | 72 |
| Medical status | Received first aid, treated at Key Lake mill, hospital follow-up; rabies treatment as precaution |
| Investigation | Wildlife Human Attack Response Team (Saskatchewan Conservation Officer Service) |
Local communities and industry workers in northern Saskatchewan often operate in remote settings where encounters with wildlife are more likely than in urban areas. While reports of wolf aggression toward people remain infrequent, conservation officers remind residents and visitors to report any aggressive or unusual wildlife behaviour immediately.
The investigation is ongoing. The Conservation Officer Service has not yet provided further details on whether the wolf will be captured or tested for rabies, nor have authorities released the victim’s first name or additional identifying information.
This report will be updated as officials release more information.
