I posted this in the political forum, but it' s more for you wisconsin guys.


Controlling Wolf Populations in Northern Wisconsin

There is a decent size population of people that believe wolves are a great addition to the wildlife diversity. These people fantasize a world where wolves kill only sick, wounded, and old deer. They fail to realize that wolves are opportunists that kill when they feel the need to, regardless of whether the prey is in good health or not. Wolves are well known for taking down large prey including bison, moose, elk, and caribou. They surely would have no problem killing a fully mature, healthy deer.
The timber wolf is a natural predator that has a place in the wilderness of Wisconsin. In fact, wolves are not that bad as long as their numbers are monitored and controlled. The Wisconsin DNR claims there are 324 wolves in 154 collared packs in Wisconsin. That averages out to just over two wolves per pack. Wolves are most commonly found in packs of four to eight wolves. Remember that these are only the radio-collared packs. These numbers do not include wolves, which were once solitary and might have started new packs. Whether these numbers are correct or not is very questionable. This last deer season, the DNR had our whitetail deer herd at an estimated two million deer. It’s now projected that after the spring of 2003; there will be only 1.1 million deer. These estimates are off by a half million or more. It will be hard to convince Wisconsin citizens that the DNR’s wolf numbers are correct.
I consume most of my free time outdoors. In 2002, ninety-three of those days were spent hunting and many more spent scouting. I started scouting early last year while shed hunting from January through April. As summer came I spent my time surveying fields where I would note the number of deer and their sex. Hunting season began on September 14 and from that day on I hunted nearly everyday until the closing on January 3. There was a noticeable decline in the number of deer I witnessed from last fall to those summer days and eventually into this winter.
Hunters in the northern region of Wisconsin have also reported an increase in wolves and a decrease in deer in certain areas. I have noticed a large increase in wolf sign in the areas where I hunt and walk. The signs that wolves leave include numerous tracks as well as deer carcasses. The carcasses that I have found appear to be wolf kills from the extensive damage to the bone structure of the deer. Everywhere I drive or walk, I find wolf tracks. There have also been more confrontations with wolves beside just the presence of them being there.
Two confrontations that I’ve read about recently involve dogs. Sam Cook, of the Duluth News Tribune, recently wrote an article about he and his dog were on a walk when they saw three deer run across the road they were on. Not far behind the deer was a wolf. The wolf saw Sam and his dog in the road and began to approach them. The wolf‘s ears were laid back and it was showing it‘s teeth in an aggressive manner. Sam was unarmed so he attempted to grab a rock or a stick. At the same time a second wolf came out of the woods. The first wolf turned his attention back towards the deer and second wolf and left. The second incident includes a woman from Ino and her pet dog. While outside one night the dog was attacked and killed by wolves.
To keep wolf numbers in check, the DNR will first have to come up with accurate data on the number of wolves in Wisconsin. This could include an overhead infrared survey. Once the numbers of wolves is determined it is important to understand the concentrations of that population. Tags will be regulated and distributed by county with a draw system depending on the number of wolves are in that county. The number of wolves is on a steady increase and if the DNR does not take the proper steps in determining an accurate number of wolves they will soon be out of control.