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Scientific Classification of Wolves
Gray Wolves
Red Wolves
Ethiopian Wolves
Wolf Prey and Predation
 United States
Regional Information:
Eastern DPS
 Southwestern DPS
Western DPS
International Wolf Populations
Wolf Management and Conservation
Human Perspectives
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This information is posted for historical purposes and does not reflect current state or federal status nor current wolf population counts.
The criteria listed below are directly from the 1992 revision
of the Recovery Plan For The Eastern Timber Wolf. The original recovery
plan was prepared by the Eastern Timber Wolf Recovery Team, an
interdisciplinary panel of scientists and administrators assembled
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The team's mission was
to come up with reasonable actions to recover and/or protect the
eastern timber wolf (Canis lupus lycaon)
a subspecies of the gray wolf. At the time the plan was written
this subspecies was thought to range from the northeastern United
States to western Minnesota. A recent taxonomic review has resulted
in the gray wolf population of the western
Great Lakes area being newly classified as a different subspecies
(Canis lupus nubilus). None-the-less,
the recovery plan still stands as the basis for deciding when
to remove the western Great Lakes area subpopulation of the gray
wolf from the federal list of threatened and endangered species.
[Before the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes area can be completely
taken off the list of threatened and endangered species] at least
two viable populations within the 48 United States satisfying the
following conditions must exist:
- the Minnesota population [of gray wolves] must be stable or
growing, and its continued survival be assured, and
- a second population outside of Minnesota and Isle Royale must
be re-established, having at least 100 wolves in late winter if
located within 100 miles of the Minnesota wolf population, or
having at least 200 wolves if located beyond that distance. These
population levels must be maintained for five consecutive years
before delisting can occur. A Wisconsin-Michigan population of
100 wolves is considered to be a viable second population, because
continued immigration of Minnesota wolves will supplement it demographically
and genetically for the foreseeable future.
The Wisconsin wolf population should be reclassified to threatened
status when the late-winter Wisconsin population is maintained at
80 wolves for three consecutive years. Reclassifying Michigan wolves
also may be considered at that time.
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