|
|
WOLF POPULATION STEADY
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 -- 1:07 pm
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
State game managers say Wisconsin's gray wolf population over the winter was about the same size as it was a year earlier, indicating the rapid rise in wolf numbers in recent years may be leveling off.
The Department of Natural Resources estimates there were between 537 and 564 wolves in the state. That's based on aerial tracking of radio-collared wolves, snow track surveys by DNR personnel and volunteers and wolf sightings by the public.
DNR wolf specialist Adrian Wydeven says the growth in wolf numbers appears to be slowing down or leveling off as the population nears the maximum that heavily forested areas of the state can support comfortably.
In an update today, the DNR says wolves killed livestock on a record 30 farms last year, up from 25 in 2006.
There were 37 wolves and one wolf hybrid captured and killed on farms where wolves killed livestock. Also, three landowners shot wolves in the act of attacking pets or livestock.
|
|
|
VIEW OUR ARCHIVE
|
|
