Aebra Coe
While wolf sightings in Northern Lower Michigan are rare, there have been scattered reports and trail camera videos over the last decade. The gray wolf, the species that once flourished here, was effectively eliminated for almost 80 years because of over-hunting and habitat destruction.
Wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were removed from the endangered species list in January of this year and are currently a protected non-game species in the state.
In August, a bill to allow wolf hunting was introduced in the Michigan Legislature by House Rep. Matt Huuki, R-Atlantic Mine, and has been referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation.
In this region, scientists rely heavily on wolf observation reports from the public to monitor populations. “We investigate recent reports that have evidence to verify presence,” said Jennifer Kleitch, wildlife biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The agency asks the public to report recent sightings and evidence of wolves, especially in February and March, wolf breeding season. Observations can be reported year-round online on the MDNR website in the wildlife section.
“It is believed that wolves can cross the ice when the Straits of Mackinac freeze over in winter,” said Kleitch, “It is by no means a common occurrence.”
Wolves are predators that require large areas to hunt and prey to survive, said the biologist, and those habitats are often fragmented in the Lower Peninsula.
While there are a few wolves in the area, people need not be afraid, said Kleitch. “In reality, humans are more likely to be attacked by a neighborhood dog than a wolf or other wild animal,” she said, “Especially in the northern Lower Peninsula where wolves are exceedingly rare.”
However, wolves are similar to other wild animals in that humans should not approach them, feed them or harass them. “It is legal to use lethal force against a wolf if you are in the act of self-defense,” she said. But the situation must be reported to the DNR immediately.