Status of the Timber Wolf in Wisconsin
Performance Report
1 July 2006 - 30 June 2007
WI Endangered Resources Report #136
This report covers activities conducted from 1 July 2006 through 30 June 2007 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.
Thirty-seven wolves were live captured, and 31 in 27 different packs were fitted with radio collars in 2006. Eighty-three radio collared wolves were monitored during the study period. Mean territory size was 31.0 square miles for 28 adult wolves, and 6127 square miles o f the state was estimated to be occupied by territorial wolves. The minimum count for winter 2006-2007 was 540 to 577 wolves in 138 packs and 17 as loners, and included 528 to 564 wolves living outside Indian reservations in the state. Thirteen wolves being actively monitored died during the period and included: 7 shot, 2 vehicle collisions, 1 euthanized, 1 unknown natural mortality, and 2 unknown mortalities. A total of 68 wolves were found dead in the state and included the following mortality factors: 21 euthanized problem wolves, 1landowner shooting, 25 vehicle collisions, 1 train collision, 13 illegal shootings, I died in trap, 1 died from mange, 5 died from unknown mortalities. Five of 20 wolves examined in 2006 had some mange. Reports of wolf observations were received from 47 counties. Fifty-four depredations on livestock and pets occurred during the period and included 39 cattle killed, 5 cattle injured, 10 sheep killed, 50 chickens killed, 5 horses injured, 24 dogs killed and 10 dogs injured. Twenty-eight wolves were captured at depredations sites and 24 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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