Growth of state wolf population begins to slow
By Department of Natural Resources
The size of Wisconsin’s gray wolf population during the winter remained very similar or declined slightly from the previous winter, according to a survey.
Department of Natural Resources biologists estimate there are between 537 and 564 wolves in Wisconsin, about the same number as a year ago.
The annual winter wolf count relies on aerial tracking of radio-collared wolves and snow track surveys by DNR and volunteer trackers. Also included are wolf sightings by members of the public. The agency has conducted these counts since the winter of 1979-1980, when there were 25 wolves.
Adrian Wydeven, a DNR conservation biologist and wolf specialist, said the once-rapid growth in wolf numbers appears to be slowing or leveling off as the population approaches the maximum size that the heavily forested parts of the state can comfortably support.
In 2007, wolves killed livestock on 30 farms, a record. In 2006 wolves killed livestock on 25 farms. Since wolves were de-listed in March of 2007, state managers have had the authority to kill wolves that prey on livestock.
Wildlife Services staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted trapping on most Wisconsin farms hit by wolf depredation in 2007. They captured and killed 37 wolves and one wolf-dog hybrid.
The DNR issued shooting permits to 25 landowners with recent wolf problems in 2007, but no wolves were shot with the permits.
Three landowners shot wolves in the act of attacking pets or livestock on their property without permits. Landowners or renters of land are allowed to shoot wolves in the act of attacking pets or livestock. They are required to contact their local conservation warden within 24 hours.
During the summer of 2007, pup production in packs across northern Wisconsin seemed down from previous years based on summer howl surveys.
A new form of mange, demodectic, was detected in a Wisconsin wolf last fall. Only sarcoptic mange previously had been detected in Wisconsin wolves. Mange is a skin disease, caused by a burrowing mite, that can lead to death by exposure during the depths of winter. Several radio-collared wolves died from severe mange over winter, suggesting the disease may have become more widespread in wolves.
– The DNR in a recent survey found 143 state wolf packs consisting of at least two adults. The list included 21 packs in central Wisconsin and 122 packs in northern Wisconsin. The largest packs were the Beaver Dam Lake and Shanagolden packs in Ashland County, with seven to nine wolves, and the Wintergreen Pack in Price County with eight. At least 33 packs had five or more wolves.