On the rise U.P. wolf numbers up to at least 434
On the rise
U.P. wolf numbers up to at least 434
| GRAY WOLF (Scot Stewart photo) |
By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — While the state’s population of gray wolves continues to rise, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has killed some wolves depredating livestock in the Upper Peninsula this summer under authority granted by a new federal permit.
The DNR plans to announce Wednesday that a winter survey of the state’s wolf population found at least 434 wolves in the U.P., up from an estimated 405 wolves counted in a similar survey in 2005.
“The number is up from last year, but (the increase is) not as high as previously,” said Brian Roell, the state’s wolf coordinator with the DNR in Marquette.
An increase of 45 wolves was discovered during the 2005 survey, over 2004’s total of 360 wolves.
Pat Lederle, research section supervisor for the DNR’s Wildlife Division in Lansing, said numerous variables involved in the surveys could represent this year’s increase in wolf numbers.
“There’s a ton of factors that could have caused it,” Lederle said. “It could be any number of things.”
The variables range from lower mortality and higher reproduction to bad weather during surveys to difficulties in determining precise numbers with a large number of animals being studied.
Currently, the DNR is working with a mathematician at Michigan Tech University in Houghton to perfect a stratified sampling technique for wolf studies, which would allow greater concentration of study in certain areas.
Wolf surveys are conducted during winter months when wolf numbers are at their lowest. Last winter, DNR biologists worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services conducting the wolf survey.
More than 2,000 hours were spent using tracking, aerial observations of packs of radio-collared wolves, and other evidence to determine the number of animals.
The DNR regularly monitors about 50 wolves that have been fitted with radio collars to determine their movements and survival. A track survey in the northern Lower Peninsula did not confirm the presence of any wolves.
In October and November 2004, three wolves were documented in Presque Isle County, representing the first confirmation of wolves in the Lower Peninsula in more than 60 years.
Since 1989, the wolf population has increased every year except 1997, when a small population decline was noted, Roell said.
Meanwhile, the state has killed six wolves since May in Ontonagon County under provisions of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit granted to the DNR in May.
Gray wolves are a federal endangered species and threatened species under Michigan law. Permits for managing endangered species are provided for under the Endangered Species Act.
Under the wolf damage control program, permits are issued to the state, with control actions carried out by the DNR or USDA Wildlife Services.
The state’s permit allows a maximum of 40 wolves to be killed, with the permit expiring on Dec. 31.
Wolves may only be killed after numerous conditions are met ranging from verification wolves were involved in depredation to a conclusion being drawn that depredation at the site is likely to continue in the immediate future if the depredating wolf is not removed.
The DNR has investigated wolf depredation in Alger, Baraga and Ontonagon counties this summer. The six wolves killed in Ontonagon County had killed livestock.
“That’s the only time we can exercise the permit is for livestock depredation,” Roell said.
Prior to the permit being granted, the state had no legal authority to kill problem wolves and could only harass or trap wolves known to have killed livestock or pets.
Michigan is also revising its state plan for managing wolves, with the help of a 20-member advisory committee. The committee — called the Michigan Wolf Management Roundtable — recently held its first meeting in Newberry.
The group has membership representing eight broad areas of interest, including livestock, environmental, hunting and trapping, wolf protection interest, public safety, tourism and resource development, American Indian tribes and DNR wildlife and law enforcement.
Over the next several months, the group will meet to develop recommendations for the DNR.
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota all have state wolf management plans designed to maintain minimum wolf populations exceeding the recovery criteria for an isolated wolf population in the federal eastern recovery plan.
The state plans implement management actions and protections that will maintain wolf populations above the federal recovery criteria for the foreseeable future.
Currently, the Michigan plan calls for a minimum sustainable population of 200 wolves in the U.P. Habitat, prey and land-use analysis showed that the U.P. can support at least 800 wolves.
No upper population limit is specified, but an upper limit referred to as “the cultural carrying capacity” will be determined by public reaction.
The plan acknowledges that in the future, “some degree of wolf population stabilization and control” may be needed and that “some wolves will likely need to be killed under controlled conditions.”
The advisory committee meetings are not open to the public. It is expected to work through December to reach consensus on guiding principals for managing wolves in Michigan.
The state’s management plan for wolf management will then be revised to meet the criteria set out by the panel. A public review of its plan is expected next March.
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