Public Wolf Forun to be Held

Public Wolf Forums to be Held

The rebound of timber wolves in Wisconsin is an endangered species success story. The story cannot be considered a success, however, until the species is removed from the endangered species list. That may actually come to be sometime in the near future. The wolf may qualify for downlisting from endangered to threatened status in Wisconsin on the state level. The US Fish and Wildlife Service may consider the same action on the federal level. That also may happen in the near future, thanks to the efforts of many people within and outside of various government agencies, members of the public and to the wolves.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved a Wolf Recovery Plan in 1989. Wisconsin became the first state to develop such a plan for wolves. Its goal is to establish a population of at least 80 wolves in ten packs in Wisconsin and maintain that population for at least three consecutive years by the year 1999.

The plan has worked beyond the wildest dreams of its many crafters. In 1985 only 15 animals were estimated to exist in Wisconsin. By 1994-95, 83-86 wolves were present, and in the winter of 1995-96, 99-105 wolves were counted in 28 packs. In the early 1990s wolves even spread out and established several packs in west-central Wisconsin.

On July 24th the DNR gained the approval of the Natural Resources Board to move ahead with the development of a Wolf Management Plan, using public input in developing guidelines for managing the state’s timber wolf population. The DNR and all of its partners are committed to a program of working with all the people who are interested or affected by wolf recovery work.

The DNR is interested in developing a Wolf Management Plan for several reasons: (1) the wolf population increase is greater than anticipated and beyond recovery goals, (2) a wolf management plan was stipulated in the state recovery plan as an outcome if the wolves responded favorably during the recovery program, and (3) federal guidelines for wolf recovery, which call for a minimum of 80 wolves in Wisconsin for three consecutive years, and 100 wolves for five consecutive years in a joint Michigan-Wisconsin population, are close to being realized.

In keeping with their promise that the development of a wolf management plan would be done with public involvement, like their recovery plan, the DNR will hold a number of public forums. These forums, to be held in October in conjunction with Wolf Awareness Week, will kick off the process of developing a management plan with citizen input. Forums will be held as follows:


October 15	Florence

				Superior

				Milwaukee



October 16	Black River Falls

				Stevens Point

				Park Falls

				Madison



October 17	Rice Lake

				Rhinelander

				Green Bay

This is your opportunity to become informed on the status of wolves in the state, and on how your input can affect the management of a recovered Wisconsin wolf population. TWIN urges its members to get involved.

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