The elusive wolf-dog known as WD-40 continues to roam and apparently expand his range in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area.

First reported in the Coombs area last fall, the animal has been sighted everywhere from French Creek to Qualicum Beach to Parksville.

It was reportedly released by an unidentified owner and there are numerous reports of attacks on domestic pets, including a French Bulldog at the Coombs Country Campground in November. The wolf-dog has been dubbed WD-40 because it has proven so difficult and 鈥渟lippery鈥� to catch.

There is speculation now that multiple animals may be behind the sightings and attacks.

Gary Shade, co-founder of FLED (Find lost and escaped dogs), said he has received photos where the animal鈥檚 fur has a different colour pattern.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen a couple of pictures that just don鈥檛 look like him,鈥� he said, and added that some photos show black legs, contrasted with WD-40鈥檚 mostly tan legs. 鈥淚t could have been the phone they were using to take a picture, I don鈥檛 know.鈥�

A Feb. 7 social media post placed the wolf-dog near Morningstar Creek and expressed concern the animal was looking 鈥渟kinny鈥�.

鈥淗e鈥檚 not skinny looking. He鈥檚 got a nice weight on him,鈥� said Shade. 鈥淗e鈥檚 getting fed every day, the girl鈥檚 giving him really good, high quality dog food.鈥�

The animal has become comfortable with a volunteer who feeds him regularly.

鈥淗e鈥檒l come up and he plays with her a bit. She can鈥檛 touch him. He kind of jumps around,鈥� Shade said.

He is concerned the wolf-dog will be killed, 鈥渢here鈥檚 a guy with a crossbow looking for him.鈥�

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Shade is also worried the volunteer will be harassed if identified.

FLED鈥檚 goal is to transport it the wolf-dog to Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in Cochrane, Alta.

Shade hopes the Conservation Officer Service (COS), which has so far indicated the animal is outside its jurisdiction, will assist.

An inquiry to sanctuary did not receive an immediate reply.

A baited trap previously monitored by local volunteers and FLED has not been active for months since it became clear the method was not working.

台湾MM裸聊室 Animal Control Services of BC, contracted by the Regional District of Nanaimo, continues its effort to trap the wolf-dog.

MLA Adam Walker said the situation is 鈥渉ugely disruptive鈥�, particularly for the community members who want to walk the trails without fear.

鈥淭he real challenge is that this animal, early on, some of the attempts to trap it, you know, you had local community members that were interfering with some of the initial attempts to trap it,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 very leery about being trapped or even having interactions with humans. That鈥檚 why they call it WD-40, it鈥檚 a very slippery animal that鈥檚 very hesitant about being around humans.鈥�

Walker said he has brought the issue up with his colleagues at the Ministry of the Environment, but because it鈥檚 considered a domestic animal, COS is not involved, although the Province recognizes the impact it is having on the community.

He鈥檚 heard from several residents who have encountered the wolf-dog, including one person who paid a $10,000 veterinary bill.

The animal turned up at Walker鈥檚 property this winter, and he heard it make a barking/howling noise.

鈥淚t was in my neighbour鈥檚 yard in the morning and then my wife was doing something with the Christmas lights and saw it in the backyard,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd as you can imagine, it鈥檚 not a pleasant thing to look over and see.鈥�