DNR Warns Hunters Against Killing Wolves By Mistake
Hunters Can Be Cited For Killing Wolves
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said that wolves are making a resurgence in the state and are being accidentally killed by hunters in the area.
They were once considered a threatened species, but now there are enough gray wolves in the area they’re only considered “protected.” But the DNR said that hunters are mistaking the animals and killing them.
In fact, there have been two killed in just the last month by hunters thinking the animals were coyotes, officials said.
One was killed by a bow hunter Saturday along the Wisconsin River near the Pine Island Wildlife Area. After tracking the animal, the hunter brought it to a local taxidermist who identified it as a wolf and turned it over to the DNR. The other wolf was shot with a gun by a deer hunter near Avoca in Iowa County in October.
That wasn’t the first wolf seen in the area. One was sighted near Wisconsin Dells in March of last year and attacked a dog and a calf in May 2006. The DNR tried to trap and euthanize it because of its actions, but it was never found.
The DNR said it is concerned that more hunters will mistake and kill the animals going into the gun deer season starting Saturday.
“It’s really important because as they become more populated in the area and people are more familiar with them, we always try to educate them first and give them the benefit of the doubt. But as they become more familiar, the penalties can get really expensive,” said Mike Green, a conservation warden with the DNR.
Wardens have not decided whether to cite the hunter who shot the animal Saturday, but penalties can be up to $2,000 for unintentionally killing a wolf.
The DNR said there have been numerous sightings of wolves along the Wisconsin River corridor in the last year or so, and hunters and the public should expect to see the population increase even more in the area.
The DNR said hunters should be aware of the differences between wolves and coyotes when they’re in the woods.
Wardens said a wolf will stand 8 to 10 inches larger at the shoulder and would be nearly a foot longer than coyotes. Wolves have long legs and are more muscular, weighing more than 50 pounds. Coyotes are usually less than 45 pounds and have more pointed ears that look large for their head. Wardens said wolves and coyotes can have similar coloring and that should not be used as a distinguishing factor.