Grey wolf hunt debate rekindled; population grew 25 percent this winter

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Wisconsin’s wolf population grew by about 25 percent in the last year. And it’s rekindling the debate over a possible hunting season for the grey animals.

The Department of Natural Resources used tracking surveys to estimate the preliminary wolf numbers at 630-680.

That’s up from about 540 last year, and it’s the largest one-year gain since wolves started returning to the Badger State in the 1970s.

Adrian Wydeven of the DNR said a severe winter attracted more wolves to Wisconsin, mainly because it was easier for them to go after deer.

States are managing their own wolf populations again after the federal government took them off the endangered species list on May 4.

The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and the Conservation Congress have both called for a limited hunt, as the wolves attack more livestock and pets.

The state has paid almost $800,000 since 1985 to compensate for wolf slayings of farm animals and hunting dogs.

But the U.S. Humane Society says it’s against a wolf hunt, saying Wisconsin’s population needs to keep recovering from its levels of past decades.

Howard Goldman says the group will file another lawsuit next month, to try and get the wolf back on the federal endangered list.

Tags: grey wolf, outdoors, wisconsin, hunt, northland, hunting