PROGRESS REPORT OF
WOLF POPULATION MONTTORING IN
WISCONSIN FOR THE PERIOD
OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1997
By: Adrian P. Wydeven and Sarah R. Boles
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Park Falls, Wisconsin
January 25, 1998
The enclosed report provides a short summary of wolf population monitoring program in Wisconsin during the period
October through December 1997. A more thorough report of fall and winter survey work will be completed in spring
1998. Twenty-five collared wolves were monitored in 20 different packs during the quarter. Two collared wolves died
during the quarter and 3 radio signals were lost. Wolf observations were reported from 15 Wisconsin counties.
Many people have assisted on wolf surveys in Wisconsin and a more complete list will be illustrated in the spring
report. Aerial surveys on wolves was done by DNR pilots Fred Kruger, Phil Miller, Paul Anderson, and Ray Marvin.
Bruce Kohn conducted research on the Highway 53 Wolf Study in northwest Wisconsin. Ron Schultz conducted
survey work across northcentral and northeast Wisconsin, and Sarah Boles surveyed northwest Wisconsin. Dick Thiel
coordinated wolf monitoring activity in central Wisconsin. Dead wolves were necropsied by Dr. Nancyhomas of the
National Wildlife Health Lab in Madison. Nancy Cervantes resigned from the wolf program this quarter when she
accepted a position with DNR water regulations program in Madison.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT provided funding for the Highway 53 Wolf Study. Other wolf
monitoring activity was funded by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Section 6 Grants, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
(Project W-154R, P.R. Funds), Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forests, Wisconsin Endangered Resources Fund,
Timber Wolf Alliance Adopt-A-Wolf Pack, Timber Wolf Information Network, and contribution from the general
public.
Twenty-five wolves were monitored in Wisconsin in late September, and wolf 253F was found missing after the last
flight in September (Table 1). It was not apparent until early October that 253F was missing. Therefore only 24
wolves were on the air in early October.
Collared wolves were monitored in 20 packs during the quarter out of 32-33 packs in the state. Five packs had two
collared wolves (Truck Trail, Bootjack Lake, Torch River, Crotte Creek, and Empire Pack). Three wolves went off
the air in the quarter because the signals were lost (174F, 229F, and 265M) and two died (239F and 243F). Wolf 239F
died from being shot in northern Bayfield County on or prior to December 20, 1997, and wolf 243F died, probably
from mange near December 17, 1997. Wolf 241F was radio collared by Jon Gilbert and Ron Persian of the Great
Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission on November 20, 1997. This wolf had been caught initially as a 19 pound
pup last summer by Ron Schultz, but was too small to radio-collar at the time. She weighed 60 pounds on November
20. By the end of the quarter 20 wolves were on the air in 15 packs including 4 adult males, 10 adult females, 2
yearling male, 1 yearling female, 1 pup male, and 2 pup females.
During the quarter wolf 239F displayed some major dispersal behavior. In early October the wolf dispersed northward
toward Mellen and westward to areas near Grandview. By early November she had dispersed north to Cornucopia in
Northern Bayfield County. On December 20 she was found shot to death near Herbster in northern Bayfield County
about 70 miles from her original capture site in the Thornapple River Pack.
Two collared wolves and one noncollared wolf were lrnown to die during the quarter. The collared wolves as listed
above included 239F shot to death in north Bayfield County and 243F that died from complications related to mange
near Springstead in southern Iron County. A yearling male died east of Spooner in Washburn County in November
from injuries caused by a vehicle collision.
A total of 69 reports of "probable" and "possible" wolf observations were reported from 15 counties during the fall
quarter. These reports were an increase from last quarter (42 reports), and an increase from the same quarter last year
(49 reports). Generally the fall quarter, when most hunting occurs, is the peak of wolf observation reports. Number of
counties with wolf observations was less this quarter (15~ than the same quarter last year (19), and no reports were
received from central Wisconsin counties with wolf packs. Highest rate of reporting was for Iron, Price, and Sawyer
counties. Wolf 239F was observed by many people, but is listed only once for each county in which she was seen.
No wolf depredation was known to occur during the quarter, but a farm in northern Burnett County that had lost 9
calves to wolves in spring and early summer, had an additional 21 calves missing in fall when the cattle were rounded
up for market. The Chase Brook pack did include the farm as part of its territory, but depredation on livestock were
not verified. Attempts will be made in 1998 to more carefully monitor this pack and the calves on the farm.
Eleven wolves were monitored in eight packs in the Highway 53 Wolf Study (155M, 174F, 210F, 263F, 265M, 266F,
267M, 268M, 277M, 278M and 724F). Two wolves went off the air during the quarter (174F and 265M) leaving 9
wolves in 7 packs at the end of the quarter. Only the Stuntz Brook Pack and the possible Crex Meadow Pack had no
collared wolves within the study area. .
Plans for Next Quarter
Aerial monitoring will continue on all collared wolves and emphasis will be made on obtaining visual observations.
Attempts will also be made to snow-track all packs not radio collared. Work will continue on a draft wolf management
plan for the state.