Mark Ryskiewicz
March 18, 2011
Wolves In Wisconsin
Canus lupis, commonly referred to as the gray or timber wolf, has been creating quite a stir in Wisconsin in the recent years. The timber wolf has existed in Wisconsin since the time of the glaciers, approximately 10,000 years ago. Native Americans coexisted with these majestic animals for many years and it was looked upon as a highly skilled hunter. Soon after the Europeans came to Wisconsin though the wolf was seen as a threat so a bounty was placed on them. The timber wolf first disappeared from southern Wisconsin and by 1950 there were but only fifty wolves remaining in the north woods. Since then they have been tossed on and off of the endangered species list and are currently sitting as a federally protected species. Today in Wisconsin if you mention the word wolf around particular parties of interest, strong opinions may be voiced. Many of these opinions voiced may be negative toward the animal however these people may be misperceived about the facts and notions these animals hold in the wilderness.
Wisconsin may be known for the Packers, good cheese, and bitterly cold weather, but another thing it is known for is whitetail deer hunting. Wisconsin has one of the highest deer populations in the nation sitting right around one million. This is roughly 37% above the goal that the DNR has intended for the herd. An adult wolf will kill approximately twenty deer per year. This number may sound pretty high and alarm a few people but what they don’t know are the other factors that kill deer. There are approximately 662 wolves living in Wisconsin so they roughly kill 13,000 deer per year. This number is impressive but when compared to hunting, bears, coyotes, winter mortality rates, and car crashes, this number doesn’t even come close. Every year hunters take roughly 122,000 deer out of the herd, bears kill approximately 33,000 deer, coyotes kill around 16,000 deer, the winter mortality rate is between 5% and 15% depending on the severity of the season, and car crashes make up the same amount as wolf kills sitting at 13,000. (The Gray Wolf (Timber Wolf) in Wisconsin)
In the hunting realm quality deer management is becoming quite the popular objective of many hunters. Many of these hunters put a lot of time and effort into managing their land for these desired trophy bucks and so the last thing they want are wolves around to take down their trophies. A few people however think this isn’t the case and that wolves can actually increase the health and fitness of the deer population by taking out the weak, sick, and old. Our neighbor to the west, the state of Minnesota, has approximately 3,000 wolves and is currently sitting as the second best state for boone and crocket bucks shot and registered. This suggests QDM can thrive while wolves are present. (The Gray Wolf (Timber Wolf) in Wisconsin)
The timber wolf is indeed a majestic animal and has been gracing us with its presence in Wisconsin. Many people are not too fond of this animal though and insist it be taken out. However they don’t realize the importance of the animal and that humans and wolves can co-exist together. The timber wolf was almost wiped out of Wisconsin, an ecological mistake that cannot happen again.
“The Gray Wolf (Timber Wolf) in Wisconsin”. 7 September 2010. Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources. 15 September 2010. < http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/mammals/wolf/>.
4 comments:
Good post, I hope it stirs up some comments.
I am an avid deer hunter. I never used to like the idea of haveing wolves around but that has all started to change. I feel that wolves are a huge benefit to the deer herd, I've seen that myself. I don't get a deer every year, it would be nice if I did. Since the wolf has come back the deer have gotten smarter harder to hunt and it is I that need to adapt. Everyone can scream about gettign ride of the wolves and I will agree to a point. There are areas that could use some management of wolves and others that don't. I support wolves in Wisconsin but with a season.
Thanks Ryan. I think if they would institute a season just like bear hunting for wolves it would make a lot of people feel better. Have the DNR go out and do a survey of the wolf population and if its to high then issue that many tags. People could then apply for preference points (just like bear hunting) and issue the tags based on that as well. If the population is too low then no tags should be issued.
Your article is spot on, Mark. I agree with your last comment that if there are areas that actually need management, then allow the hunting. However, it seems as if too many people are stuck in the Little Red Riding Hood days and hold irrational opinions of wolves. The sad thing is, if a wolf educational program is held, I doubt that any of these people will actually listen to it. They will just stick to their ways.
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