Endangered Wolves Endangering Wisconsin Pets

Look out, pet owners! Wolves are on the rampage in Wisconsin, preying on pets and farm animals. In 2010, wolves attacked livestock on at least 47 Badger State farms, compared to 28 farms in 2009 and 32 farms in 2008, according to Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Wisconsin DNR points to the gray wolf for most attacks.

In 2010, gray wolves have been blamed for the deaths of 45 to 60 calves, 20 hunting hounds, 14 pet dogs, 16 cows and six sheep. Livestock deaths from wolf attacks cost Wisconsin farmers nearly $115,000 last year alone. Wisconsin DNR officials attribute these deaths to 25 to 27 different wolf packs in the state, as well as a few lone wolves.

Adrian Wydevin, a Wisconsin DNR wolf expert, commented on the increased wolf attack incidents in the state last year. "Beside the big increase in the number of farms where we're seeing problems, the number of dogs being attacked is really telling," Adrian Wydevin said. Many of the dogs killed by wolves were guard dogs on rural properties, he explained.

Wolf attacks are highest in Wisconsin's northern counties.

Wolf populations seem to be highest in the northern sections of the Badger State. A dozen wolf attacks took place in Douglas County, for example, with most other incidents occurring in neighboring northern counties.

Throughout the past year, wolf attacks (on dogs) were reported in Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Dunn, Forest, Jackson, Lincoln, Oconto, Oneida, Sawyer and Shawano counties. Pet dogs were injured or killed by wolves in all of these incidents.

Wolves have also been spotted in southern sections of Wisconsin, including Kenosha, Ozaukee and Washington counties.

Wisconsin wolves often target hunting dogs.

Hunting hounds are particularly prone to wolf attacks, as they venture into Wisconsin's wilder terrains with their human counterparts. During the 2010 bear hunting and hound training season, 19 hunting hounds were killed by wolves.

Is the gray wolf really endangered in Wisconsin?

Gray wolf populations have increased in recent years. Presently, an estimated 700 wolves live in Wisconsin, and the number is increasing. Michigan's Upper Peninsula region contains a similar wolf population, and Minnesota may have 3,200 wolves or more.

In fact, Wisconsin's DNR is urging the gray wolf off the federal endangered species list. If state conservation officials are able to delist the gray wolf, Wisconsin farmers and pet owners will be significantly more equipped to deal directly with the wild animal threat to their pets and livestock.

Until the gray wolf is delisted, these wild canines will be protected by the federal Endangered Species Act (of 1973). Currently, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the gray wolf as "protected," which is technically a lesser status than "threatened" or "endangered." The federal DNR, however, still considers the gray wolf "endangered."