I. Introduction

The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was listed as a Federally Endangered Species in 1967 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and was again listed in 1974 under provisions of the 1973 Endangered Species Act. All gray wolves in the lower 48 states were considered Endangered by the U.S. Government. In 1978 wolves in Minnesota were upgraded to threatened status.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) listed the state population as Endangered in 1975, as wolves began to recolonize the state after being extirpated for 15 or more years. A recovery plan for Wisconsin wolves was initiated in 1989, and its goal of 80-plus wolves for the state was first achieved in 1995.

The State of Wisconsin downlisted wolves to state threatened in 1999. The federal downlisting process to reduce wolves from endangered to threatened will be initiated in 1999 and should be completed in 2000. Federal delisting from both the endangered and threatened lists should begin in 2000 and be completed within two years. Because Wisconsin's gray wolf population has recovered from an endangered status, guidelines need to be developed for managing wolves as a threatened species and eventually as a nonlisted species. This plan provides guidelines for managing wolves in Wisconsin for the next 10 to 15 years. These guidelines provide a conservation strategy for maintaining a healthy viable population of gray wolves in the state, and contribute toward national recovery, while addressing problems that may occur with wolf depredation on livestock or pets.

The WDNR is directed by State Statute 29.605 (formerly s.29.415) to implement programs "directed at conserving, protecting, restoring and propagating selected state endangered and threatened species to the maximum extent practicable". This management plan provides the guidelines for managing a threatened wolf population, supply criteria for delisting wolves as no longer in jeopardy of extirpation, and provide a conservation plan for managing a delisted wolf population.

This management plan is based on state listing of endangered, threatened, or delisted wolves in Wisconsin. Mention in the plan of listing criteria and management actions will only refer to state listing, unless specifically called "federal" listing. Although the management actions in this plan are related to state listing, in some cases, federal downlisting or delisting will also need to occur before the management actions take place. Therefore although state listing criteria may be met, in some situations, it may be necessary for federal actions to take place before certain activities are permitted.

Across the State of Wisconsin are numerous Indian Nations which have management authority on tribal lands. While wolves are federally listed, tribes are required to follow federal guidelines, but once federally delisted, wolves will be managed independently on tribal lands. Portions of northern Wisconsin also consist of lands ceded from the various Chippewa bands who reserved hunting and gathering rights on these lands. Management actions proposed for this region will require cooperation with the tribes, including considerations of public harvest.

Next Section: History of Wolves in Wisconsin and Public Attitudes