Gray wolves once existed throughout Michigan; however, removal began shortly after European settlement. Wolves were removed primarily through poisoning between 1838 and 1960. Within a few years after their protection under the Endangered Species Act, wolves began immigrating from Wisconsin, and in 1991 a wolf pack was confirmed to be reproducing in Michigan. According to federal recovery criteria, wolves in Michigan are considered
biologically recovered and were delisted from the
endangered species list in January 2012. They are currently state-managed. The wolf's main prey there are deer, elk, moose and beaver. Wolf range is approximately 25 percent of the map shown, including 90 percent of the Upper Peninsula and 100 percent on Isle Royale, which is not shown. Range lines are not depicted.
Isle Royale is an island in northwestern Lake Superior. This island is 44.5 miles (71.8 km) long and 8.3 miles (13.4 km) at its widest, with an area of 210 square miles (544 square km). In this national park, no year-around human inhabitants are allowed; however, the island is a permanent home to wolves and moose. Wolf research began on the island in 1958 and has continued as the longest continuous study of wolves in the world.
Satellite image of Lake Superior with Isle Royale located near the northwestern shore.
Species Information
Species
Common Name: gray wolf, timber wolf
Latin Name:
Canis lupus
Potential species designation under debate by the scientific community:
Common Name: eastern wolf, timber wolf
Latin Name:
Canis lycaon
Location: C. lupus and the potential C. lycaon
are indistinguishable from each other physically, behaviorally and
ecologically. The only way to tell the difference between them is a
genetic test and comparison. Both inhabit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status
Number of wolves: 520, including 16 on Isle Royale in 2011
Population trend: Increasing (slightly decreasing on Isle Royale)
Legal status: State managed (as of January 27, 2012), with full protection on
Isle Royale
Visit the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services
site for information on how the federal government manages depredating
wildlife, resolves conflict between wildlife and humans and for contact
information by state.
