Status of the Timber Wolf in Wisconsin
Performance Report
1 July 2007 - 30 June 2008
WI Endangered Resources Report #137
This report covers activities conducted from 1 July 2007 through 30 June 2008 on wolf conservation in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR reclassified wolves from endangered to threatened in 1999 and delisted wolves to protected wild animals on 1 August 2004. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service downlisted wolves to threatened on 1 April 2003 but, following a federal district court ruling, relisted them as endangered on 31 January 2005. On 12 March 2007 wolves were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in Wisconsin and other portions of the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population segment. The 1999 Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan and 2007 Wolf Plan Addendum determined wolf management in the state, and this report follows the outline of those plans to describe wolf management activities.
Twenty-four wolves and 1 wolf-dog hybrid were live captured and fitted with radio collars in 2007 in 22 different packs. Seventy-three radio collared wolves and 2 hybrids were monitored during the study period. Mean territory size was 30.5 square miles for adult wolves, and 6499 square miles of the state was estimated to be occupied by territorial wolves. The minimum count for winter 2007-2008 was 537 to 564 wolves in 144 packs and 24 as loners, and included 520 to 545 wolves living outside Indian reservations in the state. Sixteen wolves being actively monitored died during the period and included: 1 shot illegally, 1 vehicle collisions, 2 accidental trapping, 3 euthanized depredators, 1 shot protecting domestic animals, 4 mange and disease, 1 other wolves and 3 unknown mortalities. A total of 92 wolves were found dead in the state and included the following mortality factors: 35 euthanized problem wolves, 3 landowner shooting, 24 vehicle collisions, 11 illegal shootings, 1 shot in trap, 4 accidental trapping, 5 died from mange, 2 died from other wolves, 7 died from unknown mortalities. Twelve of 66 live-captured wolves examined in 2007 had some mange. Reports of wolf observations were received from 50 counties. Fifty-four depredations on domestic animals occurred during the period and included 36 cattle killed, 12 cattle injured, 2 sheep killed, 1 horse killed, 2 horses injured, 12 dogs killed and 11 dogs injured. Thirty-two wolves and 1 wolf-dog hybrid were captured at depredations sites and were euthanized. Nonlethal methods were also used on many farms. Various other strategies for implementing the Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan were also conducted during the period.
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