Vacation Wolf Experience

[Bshiftbc]

Two weeks ago, my family and I packed up and headed to my wife's family reunion in MN. The plan was to go as far as possible (Jackson WY area being the ultimate goal) on the first leg. From there we were going to spend a couple of nights in Yellowstone, one in the black hills, and on to MN.
I could only make it to the Targhee NF (about 30 miles short of Jackson) and had to pull over for some sleep. We let the two boys stay sacked out in the truck and the wife and I threw a tarp down next to the truck. As we were laying our bags out...wolf howls. We hear coyotes every night at home, and I once owned a wolf hybrid so I definitely know the difference.
My wife said those are wolves, but I said probably just yotes so she would not freak out. We laid our bags down and crawled in. This was about 1230 AM. There was a camper in the same gravel pullout already there when we pulled in.
About 0430, more howls, this time very close. I know they always sound closer than they actually are, but it sounded like they were in my sleeping bag!! My wife woke up, jumped out of her bag, and into the truck in less than a second! I woke up and grabbed my .44 and looked around while still in my bag. Seeing nothing, I too crawled into the truck.
I could not get comfortable in the truck and went back to the tarp. I awoke about 0530.
About 0600, a lady from the camper came over. She says "did you hear those F'ing b*****ds last night? They were trying to get in my cooler and I could hear them walking around the camper. I told her my wife and I were sleeping on a tarp, so yes we heard them!! She said we were nuts and that she had lived in WY and MT her whole life and that these dogs just have no fear of humans.
We walked over to her little trailer she was pulling behind her camper. A tarp was half ripped off of it with large prints all over. The prints were is gravel dust so it didn't come out in pictures (of course).

Here are my questions:
Would wolves try to get into coolers like a bear would?
Do you think my wife and I were in real danger?
Do you think they milled around and howled on their way out, or were near us while we were in the truck?

I have spent very little time in wolf country, so I am looking for a little insight...

[carver52]

While I have no experience with wolves at all, I do know that coyotes have and do challenge and even attack people on occassion.  Safest response I could say is that it wasn't a safe situation for you.  And I don't doubt they would try for a cooler if they smelled something they wanted.

[Grazer]

I am not sure if they would go for a cooler like a bear, but I don't know that much about wolves.  I would have to say that I would have been right there with your wife, running for the truck because I don't like wolves; nor do I trust them.  You are a lot braver than I am, getting back out of the truck would have been the last thing I did.  Glad to hear that you and your family survived.

[Bshiftbc]

Thanks guys! One of the reasons I got back out was that I had a broken rib and couldn't get even close to comfortable.
I was also hoping to get some opinions of folks that are more accustomed to wolves than myself!

[Woodchuck]

Where at in MN are you from?

[Bshiftbc]

I'm not. Half of my wife's family live all over MN and Iowa .

[CAMPMEAT]

Bears............

[winshooter88]

Hunting up in the Colockum one year some guys Great Pyrnees dogs got loose and were seen trying to get into peoples coolers. If dogs will do it, I can't see why wolves wouldn't.

[Bshiftbc]

Bears............

Not...

I suppose it makes sense, just never thought much about it. Just assumed it was a bear thing. Definitely wolf tracks...

[flatbkman]

Well no wonder the wolves were hanging around your vehicle. Since they only prey on the old, sick or weak, I'm sure they because of your broken rib. The whole thing was your fault. You should not have been in wolf territory with that kind of injury. Good thing they didn't attack and make you shoot one or more of them because you would have been charged with baiting.

[Bshiftbc]

Sounds like you know me!!