Two More Gray Wolves Tracked in Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan
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The National Wildlife Federation features this gray wolf on its website. The wild wolf howls for about 5 seconds and then the cry is usually taken up by members of the pack.
State wildlife officials today announced at least two more gray wolves have been detected in the Northern Lower Peninsula.
This report follows the accidental killing of a wolf in Presque Isle County in October. Michigan conservation officials reminded hunters and trappers to be especially careful when taking game.
Wildlife biologists and conservation officers in Presque Isle County confirmed that tracks in the area appear to be from a pair of wolves. Wildlife specialists this week responded to residents' wolf sightings and will continue to monitor the area to learn more.
Trappers and hunters in the region are advised not to harm or kill a wolf. Wolves remain protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and the Michigan Endangered Species Protection law.
Because the population of wolves in the Great Lakes region has expanded and continues to grow, both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Michigan DNR are planning to remove the wolf from the Endangered Species list.
According to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the gray or timber wolf's story is one of the most compelling tales of American wildlife. Once, the wolf was plentiful in most of North America, but was hunted ruthlessly. Today, the wolf is making a comeback in its former habitat. The gray wolf's natural activities help maintain properfunctioning of ecosystems, the organization states.
There are more than 2,500 gray wolves in Minnesota, more than 300 in Michigan, 335 in Wisconsin, 81 in Montana, 271 in Yellowstone National Park, 285 in Idaho, 7,500-10,000 in Alaska and 57,000 in Canada, according to the NWF. In Arizona and New Mexico, there are approximately 55 Mexican wolves.
The gray wolf is listed as a threatened species on the U.S. Endangered Species List. Wolves in the Greater Yellowstone area and central Idaho are listed as threatened but nonessential. The Mexican wolf is listed as endangered but nonessential.
The color of wolves ranges from black, grizzled gray, rust to white. The animal has round erect ears. The tail is held down, long and straight, and never curls. The wolf's muzzle is large and blocky and the animal has massive, long legs and extremely large feet.
Males are larger than females, usually 30 inches tall and weigh 57-130 pounds. Wild wolves are known tolive up to 13 years.
Wolves began naturally returning to the U.P. via Canada and Wisconsin in the early 1990s. Today, Michigan's Upper Peninsula is home to at least 360 wolves.
There are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 wolves in Ontario, according to the environmental group Earthroots. Approximately 500 wolves are trapped every year for their pelts, which are commercially saleable. Many wolves apparently are hunted every year or killed because they are considered vermin or a threat on private property. Presence of a large population may not be the prime indicator of the long-term viability of a wolf population in a particular habitat area, experts say.
Hunting and trapping may affect wolf behavior and the socialintegrity of the wolf pack, according to environmentalists. Wolf populations are greatly affected by areas with high road densities.
The 70-pound female wolf mistakenly killed by a Michigan coyote trapper Oct. 23 was from a pack in the central Upper Peninsula. The wolf was wearing a DNR tracking collar. Prior to that, the last recorded wolf in the Lower Peninsula was in 1910.
DNR officials urge the public to report wolf sightings in the Northern Lower Peninsula by contactinglocal DNR field offices. Reports of wolves in the Northern Lower Peninsula have been increasing in recent years, yet none of the observations of animals or sign were confirmed until recently.
The DNR will coordinate winter track surveys this season in the NLP, similar to those conducted in the UP for the past 20 years, along with USDA Wildlife Services, Central Michigan University, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and other groups.
Founded in 1936, National Wildlife Federation is the nation's largest and oldest protector of wildlife. With more than four million members and supporters, NWF is committed to educating and empowering people from all walks of life to protect wildlife and habitat for future generations.
NWF provides individuals, organizations, businesses and government with accessible, hands-on conservation education and action opportunities, leadership training and development, educational curriculum, information outreach and networking opportunities. For information or to make a donation please contact nwf.org.###
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