Wolves Occupy 63% of This State's Landscape

Stunning new findings from a nonpartisan citizen group indicate gray wolves are roaming nearly two-thirds of a state that was once considered marginal home range for North America’s apex predator.

In data released today, Wisconsin Citizen Wolf Count documents wolf sightings in 45 of the state’s 72 counties. Of these sightings, sets of data have confirmed at least 37 wolf packs. Also, wolves have been confirmed in at least 205 townships, which equals more than 16% of all 1,253 townships in the state.

A large gray wolf searches for deer in Ashland County, Wisconsin, in December 2023. (Deer & Deer Hunting photo)

The citizen group was formed more than a year ago as a way to get a way to get a more accurate way to count of wolves in Wisconsin by county and township locations. There are more than 4,600 citizen members. Members post photos to a Facebook page and provide detailed information about camera locations, townships and other geographical data. Information is collected from both private and public lands.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, gray wolves (Canis lupus), also called timber wolves, are the largest wild members of the canid (dog) family. Their close relatives, coyotes (Canis latrans), are sometimes called brush wolves but are not true wolves. Wolves in Wisconsin can weigh more than 100 pounds.

There are more than 80,000 wolves in North America, and more than 20,000 in the U.S.

Wolves now occup more than 63% of the Wisconsin landscape. (Courtesy of Wisconsin Public Radio)

In other news from today, the Wisconsin DNR supported the continued protection of wolves. According to a DNR press release:

“The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is aware of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) proposal, announced today, to focus on a national wolf recovery plan. This announcement will result in no change to the listing status and wolves in Wisconsin will remain on the federal endangered species list.

“The DNR will continue to follow the guidance laid out in the recently approved Wolf Management Plan to the extent consistent with the listed status, the DNR’s authority and applicable laws.

“The Wolf Management Plan details how the listed status of wolves in Wisconsin determines what management tools are available. As a reminder, while the wolf is on the endangered species list, hunting and lethal depredation control are prohibited.

“The DNR will continue to partner with USDA-Wildlife Services to address wolf conflicts in Wisconsin. If you suspect wolves in the depredation of livestock, pets or hunting dogs, or if wolves are exhibiting threatening or dangerous behavior, contact USDA-Wildlife Services staff immediately. If in northern Wisconsin, call 1-800-228-1368 or 715-369-5221; in southern Wisconsin, call 1-800-433-0663 or 920-324-4514. While gray wolves are listed as a federally endangered species, it remains unlawful to shoot a wolf unless there is an immediate threat to human safety.”

Wolves Occupy 63% of This State’s Landscape

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