Gray wolves once existed throughout Wisconsin; however, killing began shortly after European settlement. Wolves were removed primarily by shooting or trapping between 1865 and 1957. Within a few years after their protection under the Endangered Species Act, wolves immigrated from Minnesota and established territories in Wisconsin. According to federal recovery criteria, wolves in Wisconsin have been
biologically recovered for several years. They were delisted from the
endangered species list in January 2012 and are currently state-managed. Attitudes by the general public are fairly positive toward wolves, but wolves continue to be controversial. About one-quarter to one-half of wolf mortality in recent years there was due to illegal killing by humans. Main prey for wolves in Wisconsin are deer, beaver, and in central areas, turkey. Wolf range is approximately 25 percent of the map shown, with wolves occupying the northern portion and a small central portion of the state. Range lines are not depicted.
New
laws in Wisconsin required the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
to implement a wolf harvest season which began on October 15, 2012. Additional information.
Species Information
Species
Common Name: gray 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 northern half of Wisconsin.
Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status
Number of wolves: 825, late winter 2011
Population trend: Increasing
Legal status: State managed (as of January 27, 2012)
Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment (delisted area) and wolf range.
