Wolves May Be Removed from Threatened Species List
Wisconsin Ag Connection Editors – 09/17/2003
The population of gray wolves has recovered in Wisconsin to the point
under the state’s wolf management plan that the species should be removed
from the state’s threatened species list and managed as a protected
species, according to state wildlife officials. “Removing gray wolves from
the state’s endangered and threatened species list would symbolize that
the population has recovered to the point where they no longer need to be
treated as endangered or threatened, but can now be protected as a
non-game animal,” said Adrian Wydeven, mammalian ecologist and wolf
specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The winter count of gray wolves outside of Native American Indian
reservations in Wisconsin in 2002-2003 was 328; the winter count for
2001-2002 was 313. Under the Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan, approved by
the state Natural Resources Board in October 1999, wolves should be
removed from the state endangered and threatened species list once the
population remained at above 250 wolves outside of reservations for one
year.
The state Natural Resources Board last month authorized the department to
hold public hearings on the proposal to remove the gray wolf from the
state threatened species list. The public hearings will be held at five
locations around the state. For more information about those hearings, or
about the proposal, call 715-762-3204 ext. 107.