MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin wildlife officials are planning to seek public input on four wolf population options next month.
The Department of Natural Resources’ current wolf management plan calls for a population of 350 wolves. DNR carnivore specialist Dave MacFarland says the agency is getting ready to release a draft of a new plan to the public in January.
The draft will contain four population options, including stabilizing the population where it stands now at 650 or so wolves; keep the 350-animal goal unchanged; keeping the population between 300 and 650 wolves; or setting a minimum floor of 350 wolves.
The goal is a key piece of data as DNR officials set quotas for the state’s wolf season. MacFarland says the DNR hopes to have a final plan ready in March.