Those of us living in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest are lucky. Wolf songs have returned. Wolves recovered naturally and doing very well. In winter 2008 there were 537+ wolves; 520 outside of Indian reservations; 143 packs and at least 23 lone wolves. Wolves are recovering in Michigan with equal success.

In 1960, wolves were essentially gone from Wisconsin. Some old-timers say they saw some wolves in very wild, remote parts of the state. But there were no known breeding packs. Why did they disappear? State and federal bounties (no longer in effect), Habitat loss, poaching, car kills, disease, starvation, and parasites all contributed to their decline.

According to Department of Natural Resources biologist Adrtian Wydeven: In the 1990's the wolf population grew rapidly, despite an outbreak of mange between 1992 -1995. The Wisconsin DNR began work on a management plan, and completed the plan in 1999. This management plan set a delisting goal of 250 wolves in late winter outside of Indian reservations, and a long-term management goal of 350 wolves outside of Indian reservations. In 1999 wolves were reclassified to state threatened status with 205 wolves in the state. In 2004 wolves were removed from the state threatened species list and were reclassified as a protected wild animal with 373 wolves in the state.

Wolves were federally reclassified to threatened on April 1, 2003, but on January 31, 2005 wolves were relisted as endangered due to a lawsuit. Wolves were removed from the federal list in Wisconsin and the remainder of the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment on March 12, 2007 (also included MI, MN, and portions of ND, SD, IA, IL, IN & OH). Wolves were a state managed species until September 29, 2008 when wolves again reverted back to endangered status due to another lawsuit.

Map of Gray Wolf Distribution
in Central and Northern Wisconsin: Winter 2008 - 2009
(Source - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

Changes in Wisconsin Timber Wolf Population 1980-2009

To learn more about wolves,

• Download and play our wolf activity, "How Do Wolves Say Hello?"
• Contact The Timber Wolf Alliance at http://www.discoverycenter.net/twa.htm
• Contact the International Wolf Center at http://www.wolf.org
• Contact Wolf Song of Alaska at http://www.wolfsongalaska.org
• Contact Defenders of Wildlife at http://www.defenders.org
• Contact Wolf Haven International at http://www.wolfhaven.org
• Contact Wolf Hollow at http://www.wolfhollowipswich.org
• Contact Wild Canid Survival and Research Center at http://www.wildcanidcenter.org
• Contact The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us