Wisconsin wolves on the move
Mark Leland
Federal protection of the gray wolf has led to increasing numbers in Wisconsin. Department of Natural Resources wardens say wolf sightings are also up in areas not typically home to the wolf…like Door, Kewaunee and Manitowoc Counties.
“It’s a large powerful wild animal and you can’t discredit that or ignore that,” said Aaron Buchholz, a DNR Wildlife Biologist. He says the wolves are on the move to stake out new territory and food.
“You can see as population grows there has been depredation to livestock,” said Buchholz.
The DNR would like to be able to manage the wolf population. Its plan calls for a minimum of 350 wolves in the state.
“There are things we could be doing like lethal controls on farms that are having problems with livestock being killed by wolves that we’re not able to really do right now,” he said.
The DNR is currently working on a new head court for wolves in the state. It is not an exact science, but the yearly population count has the numbers growing. Last year there were more than 626 in the state.
Farmers, hunters and trail cameras have spotted the wolves. This is one captured on film last year in Manitowoc County. Hunters accidentally killed another wolf in the county, a violation of the government’s endangered species act.
The Humane Society of the United States got the wolf put back on the endangered list, even though the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service and DNR believe the population no longer requires protection.
“We don’t think the population is recovered in the first place we have to restore it to its historic habitat,” said Howard Goldman, HSUS Central Region Director. “We think many conflicts between wolves and humans can be resolved non -lethally.”
“Something has to be done,” commented Neil Anderson, director of the NEW Zoo in Suamico.
Anderson believes protecting the wolf is important but some state control is needed.
“I think between Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota there’s got to be a regional plan but something certainly has to be done,” said Anderson.
All sides agree the DNR will eventually get to control of the wolf’s population, but that will be up to a federal court to decide–when.