Video Captures First Evidence Of Possible Tool-Use By Wolves

November 19, 2025

Researchers in British Columbia recently captured video footage of wolves doing something few people ever imagined: using what appears to be a tool to catch a meal.

According to researchers studying the Heiltsuk First Nation territory near Bella Bella, B.C., the video shows coastal wolves dragging crab traps from the water up onto the shore — then helping themselves to the seafood buffet inside. But it’s how they do it that has scientists buzzing.

The footage reveals a wolf pulling a floating buoy that’s attached to a submerged crab trap, then patiently hauling the entire line in until the trap reaches land. Scientists observing the behavior say the wolf “appears to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the multistep connection between the floating buoy and the bait within the out-of-sight trap.”

While wolves are already known for their impressive intelligence, cooperative hunting, and ability to problem-solve as a pack, this is something new. Tool use in the animal kingdom is rare, and when it does show up, it’s usually associated with species like primates, dolphins, crows, and elephants — not apex predators hauling seafood gear out of the ocean like seasoned fishermen.

But coastal wolves are a special bunch. These B.C. wolves are known to swim between islands, hunt salmon, and adapt their diet to the tides — and now, apparently, some may be learning to use human-made objects to access food. It’s a striking example of how resourceful, adaptable, and curious wolves can be.

For the Heiltsuk First Nation, this behavior is another glimpse into the remarkable world of the coastal wolves that have lived alongside them for generations. For researchers, it’s a moment that could reshape what we know about wolf intelligence and problem-solving.