Jamie S. Johnson, John A. Vucetich, School of Forestry and Wood Products, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA; Dean E. Beyer, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Department of Geography, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI 49855, USA; James Hammill, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 1420 U.S. West, Crystal Falls, MI 49920, USA; Tom D. Drummer, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

The gray wolf had largely disappeared from Upper Michigan (its last mainland stronghold) by the time the wolf bounty was lifted in 1960. No record of successful reproduction exists for the period 1954-1990. Denning wolves were confirmed in 1991 and every year since, as the population grew from virtually zero in 1989 to an estimated 174 in 1999. Annual rate of increase during the last five years was 1.26, indicating a doubling time of about 3 years. In 1998 a program of research and monitoring was launched to better document wolf population characteristics. Study goals include evaluation of prior wolf habitat models based on road density, using current telemetry locations, and determination of pack size and pack territory size, useful in estimating wolf numbers. The correlation between estimated wolf numbers and reported wolf observations will be evaluated, to evaluate the latter as a population index. Wolf distribution appears to be highest in the Lake Michigan watershed in Upper Michigan, coincident with high deer density. Reproducing wolves have not yet been reported in Lower Michigan.