Wolves in Michigan

Source: Timber Wolf Alliance News / October 2002

The new wolf population figure for Michigan (excluding Isle Royal National Park) is 280 wolves spread throughout all counties of the Upper Peninsula. There continues to be the hypothesis that wolves will expand into the northern lower peninsula, but there still is no documented evidence that this has occurred.

This is an increase from the 249 wolves reported last year in the Upper Peninsula.

Michigan received 150-160 comments from the public on the state reclassification of wolves and hopes reclassification will occur in early summer from state endangered to state threatened.

Since 1989, Michigan has experienced 12 livestock depredations caused by wolves on two farms and 6 pet depredations. Since 1984, Michigan has handled 13 illegal shootings of wolves with 7 out of the 13 cases tried and successfully prosecuted