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Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com

Wolves captured in Wisconsin

Wolves captured in Wisconsin


Published Monday, August 26, 2002 1:45:26 PM Central Time

PARK FALLS, Wis. — Fifteen wolves have been captured in northern
Wisconsin this spring and summer to reduce domestic animal losses.

Adrian Wydeven, Department of Natural Resources mammalian ecologist from
Park Falls, said wolves were captured after depredations occurred near a
Danbury beef farm in Burnett County, a dairy operation north of Deerbrook
in Langlade County, and a rural residence in Taylor County, where wolves
attacked a dog.

More wolves have been trapped in 2002 than any previous year, Wydeven
said.

Trappers for the Wildlife Services branch of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture work with the DNR to control wolves, as well as other problem
animals.

Six sites with wolf depredations were trapped by Wildlife Services this
spring and summer, and wolves were captured at the three locations.

“Because wolves are listed as endangered by the federal government, all
wolves trapped at depredation sites must be relocated into the wild
somewhere in Wisconsin. Any wolves released into the wild are equipped
with radio transmitters and are tracked by DNR from airplanes. Three of
the wolves captured this year died in captivity or after release into the
wild, while five are being monitored by radio telemetry,” Wydeven said.

Seven wolves are in captivity, waiting to be released into the wild.
“These wolves make up a pack, including an adult male and female with
pups, that was removed from the farm near Dearbrook after USDA staff
confirmed the wolves had killed a calf and cow on that farm. One of the
six pups removed from the farm died in captivity. The DNR is preparing the
other pack members for release back into the wild on the Menominee Indian
reservation,” Wydeven said.

The Danbury operation is a beef cattle farm that has experienced
depredation in the past. Six wolves have been removed from that farm,
according to Wydeven. All six were released back into the wild in
Bayfield, Price and Vilas counties. “All were adult or yearling females.
The apparent alpha female died after just four days in the wild,” Wydeven
said.

An adult male wolf was trapped in Taylor County May 18 after attacking and
injuring a dog. The wolf was released locally, but was recaptured at the
same site May 19. It was then translocated 52 miles northeast into Price
County. The male wolf was found dead from an unknown cause in eastern
Price County in early July, Wydeven said.

Since 1991, 34 wolves that depredated on domestic animals in Wisconsin
have been trapped. Of 17 wolves that have been translocated long
distances, only one caused depredation on livestock in a new location,
Wydeven said. Seven of these previous livestock depredators are still
alive in the state, he added.

Eight problem wolves were trapped and moved in 2001.

The population in Wisconsin is about 323 wolves, not including pups born
this spring.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is in the process of reclassifying the
Great Lakes wolf population, which includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan
and the Dakotas, from an endangered to a threatened species. Once
reclassification is accomplished, the DNR will have more authority to
manage Wisconsin’s wolf population. Until then, any depredating wolves
must be trapped and relocated within the state, Wydeven noted.

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