Status of the Timber Wolf in Wisconsin
Performance Report 1 July 2002 - 30 June 2003

WI Endangered Resources Report #127

This report covers activities conducted from 1 July 2002 through 30 June 2003, on wolf conservation in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR reclassified wolves to threatened in 1999, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reclassified it to federally threatened on 1 April 2003. On 27 October 1999 the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board passed a state wolf management plan, and that plan provides the general outline for this report.

Fifty-one wolves were live captured in 2002, and radio transmitters were fitted on 49 wolves from over 20 different packs. Eighty-one radio tagged wolves were monitored during the 12 month study period. Mean territory size during winter for 28 adults was 45 square miles. The minimum count for the wolf population in winter 2002-2003 was 335 to 353 wolves in 94 packs (breeding groups of 2 or more wolves), and included 328 to 346 wolves outside of Indian reservations. Nineteen wolves being actively monitored by radio telemetry died during the period, including the following mortality factors: 7 disease, 1 other wolves, 1 drowned, 4 shootings, 3 vehicle collisions, 1 capture related and 2 unknown. A total of 59 wolves were found dead in Wisconsin and included death from the following: 13 illegal shootings, 19 vehicle collisions, 4 euthanized in control action, 1 capture related, 14 disease and starvation, 2 other wolves, 1 drowned and 5 unknown. It appeared that mange was fairly prevalent and especially acute in central Wisconsin. Reports of wolf observations by the public and agency personnel were received from 44 counties, and exceeded last year's rate of wolf reports. Twenty-four cases of wolf depredation occurred during the period, resulting in the death of 35 cattle (34 calves), 11 sheep, 3 horses and 11 dogs, as well as injury to 5 dogs. Various other strategies to implement the 1999 wolf plan were also conducted during the period.

- Text, Tables [PDF 229KB]

- Figures [PDF 515KB]