Volunteers to help monitor wolf population
The Wisconsin wolf program is looking for a few good trackers. People interested in volunteering to locate gray wolves and other forest carnivores in the coming year and help keep count on the elusive animals can learn how to track wolves during a series of upcoming sessions.
Volunteer trackers are assigned survey blocks in forest portions of northern and central Wisconsin, and are asked to conduct three or more surveys in their assigned block each winter. Data they gather can be compiled with those of other volunteers to aid DNR biologists in evaluating wolf populations.
In 2006, 120 volunteer trackers surveyed 67,200-square-mile survey blocks covering 4,897 miles of snow-covered roads and trails, and detected more than 255 different wolves. Based on volunteer and wildlife biologist surveys, in late winter 2006 biologists estimated there were 465 to 502 wolves in the state, including 449 or more outside Indian reservations.
During spring and summer 2006, 29 wolves were trapped and radio-collared. By early fall, 56 wolves were being radio tracked by Wisconsin DNR pilots, including wolves captured and collared in previous years. This accounts for about one-third of the state packs being monitored by radio-telemetry; the remaining packs are monitored by DNR and volunteer trackers.
With the expanding wolf population and reduced funding for surveys, volunteer carnivore tracking is critical to estimating the state wolf population, according to Adrian Wydeven, DNR mammal ecologist who coordinates the state wolf program. The surveys are very important for completing federal delisting and planning future management of the state wolf population.
More details about the volunteer tracking program and wolf ecology and tracking training sessions are available on the Department of Natural Resources Web site, or contact Adrian Wydeven at (715)762-1363.