Status of the Timber Wolf in Wisconsin
Performance Report 1 July 2003 - 30 June 2004

WI Endangered Resources Report #130

This report covers activities conducted from 1 July 2003 through 30 June 2004, on wolf conservation in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR reclassified wolves from endangered to threatened in 1999, and approved delisting wolves on 24 March 2004. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service downlisted wolves to threatened status on 3 April 2003, and began work in 2004 for complete delisting of wolves. The 1999 Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan determined wolf management in the state, and this report follows the outline of the wolf plan to describe wolf management activities.

Twenty-three wolves were live-captured and fitted with radio tags in 2003 in 17 different packs. Seventy radio tagged wolves were monitored during the study period. Mean territory size was 32 square miles for 22 adult wolves. The minimum count for the wolf population in winter 2003-2004 was 373 to 410 wolves in 108 packs, and included 361 to 398 wolves outside of Indian reservations. Seventeen wolves being actively monitored died during the period from the following mortality factors: 5 from disease, 1 other wolves, 5 shootings, 2 vehicle collisions, 1 euthanized at depredation site, 2 capture related, and 1 unknown causes. A total of 66 wolves were found dead in Wisconsin and included death from the following: 8 disease, 1 other wolves, 9 shootings, 23 vehicle collisions, 21 euthanized at depredation sites, 2 capture related deaths, and 2 unknowns. Mange caused most mortality from disease and was detected on 7 of 23 wolves handled in 2003. Reports of wolf observations were received from 40 Wisconsin Counties. Thirty-one cases of wolf depredation on domestic animals occurred during the study period, and included death of 29 cattle, 19 sheep, 6 game farm deer, plus 8 dogs killed and 2 injured. Twenty-two wolves were live-trapped from farms, and 21 were euthanized, plus nonlethal methods were used on many farms. Various other strategies for implementing the 1999 Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan were also conducted during the period.

- Text, Tables [PDF 815KB]

- Figures [PDF 416KB]