The clock is ticking for three wolves who escaped from the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve on New Year’s Eve after vandals cut holes in both the inner and outer fences containing them.

Haida, the 7-year-old alpha male of the pack, was shot and killed by an unknown person on Jan. 1, according to officials from the reserve. He was among those who escaped.

The remaining three — an adult female named Granite, and youngsters Logan and Lonestar — present no great danger to public safety, but because they are accustomed to life in captivity will struggle to survive as winter wears on.

Peter Schleifenbaum, owner and manager of the reserve, estimates that life for the three wolves will become more difficult in three weeks, as their fat stores run down and they have to hunt for food — something the captive wolves are not used to doing.

“They’re in good shape and wolves can sustain these temperatures for a long time, but after three or four weeks things are going to get dire,” said Schleifenbaum.

Schleifenbaum said the wolves have been spotted within 50 metres of the facility.

The centre has never experienced an attack like this before. It’s left the remaining five wolves in distress because their leaders, both the alpha male and alpha female, are now gone.

“They are very timid and literally in turmoil — the leaders are gone and they have no idea what to do,” said Schleifenbaum.

Staff at the centre will be setting traps to attempt to recapture the wolves. They suspect animal rights activists had a role in cutting through the fence, but don’t understand why the reserve would be a target.

“Any organization that has things to do with wildlife, we’re always hailed as good. We give a lot of space to the animals. Food is natural — it’s done in a way that resembles their wild home and origin,” said Schleifenbaum.

He noted that the wolves may start nosing around garbage, or even approach small pets, as they get hungrier. Anyone who spots them is asked to contact the reserve.

The property encompasses about 32,000 hectares of natural landscape including 50 lakes and the 6-hectare wolf enclosure. The wolves are kept there for research and education, as well as for public viewing.

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the damage to the fences, which are three and four metres high.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is helping to trap the remaining wolves and is looking into the shooting of Haida.