VI. WOLF MANAGEMENT BUDGET

Expenditures for the Wisconsin wolf recovery program by fiscal year are shown in the table 3 below. A total of $ 1,267,686 ($739,697 federal, $276,067 state funds) was spent on wolf recovery efforts since 1979 (Table 3). Recovery program expenditures have avereged $ 107,161 per year during the past six fiscal years (ie 1991-1996); Federal funds accounted for 77%, state funds 23%.

Federal funds have come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (source: Federal Endangered Species Act, Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act) and from the U.S. Forest Service.

State funds have come from the Wisconsin Endangered Resources Fund (ie the check-off on Wisconsin income tax forms), the Segregated Fish and Wildlife account, donations from The Timber Wolf Alliance and gifts from the public.

Table 3. WI Timber Wolf Recovery Program Expenditures.
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The Wisconsin Endangered Resources Fund pays for all damages done by state listed endangered/threatened species in addition to partially funding the wolf recovery program. Between 1984 and 1997, $40,133 has been paid to compensate people for losses due to wolves. Compensation payments are not included in the tables below.

It is anticipated that wolf management costs will remain at approximately $120,000 per year as long as wolves are on the state list and for five years thereafter.

Approximately one-third of the project costs are for the salary of the wolf program coordinator and about $42,000 are costs involving radio-telemetry surveys. Five years after wolves are federally delisted, section 6 Endangered Species and U.S. Forest Service monies will no longer be available for wolf population monitoring. In recent years Section 6 funds have normally ranged from $20,000 to $40,000 and Forest Service monies have ranged from $6,000 to $12,000. Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds would still be available for wolf conservation work, but less may be available due to competition with other endangered species and wildlife management projects. Once wolves are initially state delisted some limited radio telemetry surveys would continue, but at reduced levels that should cost about 75% the current rate or about $32,000 per year. Snow tracking surveys cost about $15,000 per year and howl surveys which cost about $5,000 annually would probably continue, but costs may be reduced if volunteer efforts are able to reduce the need for DNR surveys. General involvement by wolf program personnel would be reduced, and annual costs for the initial five years after state delisting should be about $90,000.

6-Year Average, State-Federal Funding.
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Five years after state delisting, when the wolf population level becomes relatively stable, radio-telemetry will be discontinued. Snow track surveys and howl surveys will be done on a more limited basis, and wolf program personnel involved in wolf management should decline. Annual costs should be reduced to about $40,000 to $60,000 annually. Wolf depredation costs have averaged $2,824 annually since 1984, but 76% was payments for hounds and $680 per year for livestock. Livestock losses have increased in recent years and between 1994-1998 average payments on livestock have been $1,792 per year. Generally about $17,000 are available annually in the Endangered Species Depredation Fund. The majority of this money has been spent recently on payment for depredation of dogs.

Once wolves are state delisted, this fund would no longer be available for damage caused by wolves. Annuall costs of depredation on livestock would be projected to be about $5,000 to $10,000 when wolves are delisted. New funds would need to be identified if the WDNR is to continue reimbursing livestock owners for losses. If hound dogs are included the costs would be about four times higher. The Wolf Advisory Committee recommends that funding be identified to at least cover costs for losses to livestock.

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