VI. Wolf Management Budget

Expenditures for the Wisconsin wolf recovery program by fiscal year are shown in the Table 4 below. A total of $ 1,547,333 ($1,139,225 federal, $408,148 state funds) was spent on wolf recovery efforts since 1979 (Table 4). Since 1990, when a recovery plan became effective program expenditures have averaged $ 115,326 per year during the past eight fiscal years (i.e. 1990-1998); Federal funds accounted for 77%, state funds 23%.

Federal funds have come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (source: Federal Endangered Species Act, Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act) and from the U.S. Forest Service. State funds have come from the Wisconsin Endangered Resources Fund (ie the check-off on Wisconsin income tax forms and Endangered Resources License Plate funds), donations from The Timber Wolf Alliance and gifts from the public.

The Wisconsin Endangered Resources Fund pays for all damages done by state listed (endangered/threatened) species in addition to partially funding the wolf recovery program. Between 1984 and 1998, $55,575 has been paid to compensate people for losses due to wolves. Compensation payments are not included in the tables below.

It is anticipated that wolf management will cost approximately $130,000 in state fiscal year 1999-2000 and increase about 10% per year each year thereafter.

Approximately one-third of the project costs are for the salary of the wolf program coordinator and about $42,000 are costs involving radio-telemetry surveys. Five years after wolves are federally delisted, Section 6 Endangered Species funds will no longer be available. In recent years Section 6 funds have normally ranged from $20,000 to $40,000 and Forest Service monies have ranged from $6,000 to $12,000. Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds would still be available for wolf conservation work, but less may be available due to competition with other endangered species and wildlife management projects. Some Forest Service funds may continue to be available.

Currently monitoring costs are: radio-telemetry $40,000 to $45,000 annually, snow track surveys at $15,000 annually and howl surveys at about $5,000 annually. These costs will probably increase as wolves expand across more of Wisconsin. Monitoring must keep up with wolf population as it increases so adequate information is available to make sound decisions about wolf management in Wisconsin.

Wolf depredation costs have averaged $3,970 annually since 1984. Of that amount 76% was for dogs and 24% for other losses. The average livestock loss yearly was $781. Livestock losses have increased in recent years and between 1995-1998 average payments on livestock have been $ 2,800 per year. Generally about $17,000 are available annually in the Endangered Species Depredation Fund. The majority of this money has been spent recently on payment for depredation of dogs.

8-year average, State-Federal Funding

Once wolves are state delisted, this fund may no longer be available for damage caused by wolves. The costs of depredation on livestock and pets is projected to be about $20,000 to $40,000. The cost of USDA-Wildlife Services investigating, assessing and controlling depredation is $15,000 to $30,000. The total cost for depredation control is therefore likely to be $35,000 to $70,000 annually. New funds need to be provided for the WDNR is to continue reimbursing livestock and pet owners for losses.

The total cost for wolf management will be approximately $165,000 to $200,000 annually including all management activities and depredation controls.

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