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 By the early 1960s, wolves were almost
eradicated from the upper Midwest. Why did the wolves disappear?
State and federal bounties (no longer in effect), habitat
loss, poaching, car kills, disease, starvation and parasites
all contributed to their decline.
Those of us living in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest
are lucky. Wolf songs are returning. The return of wolves
is largely due to the 1973 Endangered Species Act. Wolves
are recovering naturally and doing very well. Mainly they
walked back into the region starting about 1974. Now we
have about 335 wolves and 90 packs across the northern
third and the central forested regions of Wisconsin. Wolves
are recovering in Michigan with equal success.
On April 1, 2003, wolves in Wisconsin and Michigan were
reclassified from the status of endangered to threatened
by the federal government. 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 process off Wisconsin state delisting is planned for
late in 2003. The federal delisting process is expected
to begin in early 2004.
The map below is from “Progress Report of Wolf Population Monitoring
in Wisconsin.” This map and more information can be found on the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources web site: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/publications/wolfreports
Federal information can be found at: http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov/
Map
of Gray Wolf Distribution
in Central and Northern Wisconsin: Winter 2002 - 2003
(Source - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)
Graph
Showing Changes in Wisconsin Timber Wolf Population
To learn more about wolves,
There are many fine wolf organizations,
but because publisher, Nancy Field is on the Advisory
Council of The Timber Wolf
Alliance (TWA), we will tell you about the alliance. The
mission of TWA is to promote and assist in achieving a
sustainable population of timber wolves in the Great Lakes
region with special emphasis in the Lake Superior basin.
The Timber Wolf Alliance initiated "Wolf Awareness Week" several
years ago, and comes out with a poster during wolf awareness
week each year. TWA is also working with Defenders on Wildlife
promoting a national wolf awareness week. In 1998, TWA
released the first "national wolf awareness week poster." Inquire
about posters, find out how to Adopt-A-Wolf-Pack and much
more from The Timber Wolf Alliance, Sigurd Olson Environmental
Institute, Northland College, Ashland, WI 54806
(715) 682-1223.
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