Great Lakes Wolves Chronology

1817

Michigan begins to offer bounties for wolves.

1849

A bounty system for wolves is created in Minnesota.

1865

Wisconsin Legislature passes a state bounty offering $5 for each wolf killed.

1900

Wolves are removed from the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin.

1935

Wolves are eradicated from Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

1956

Population numbers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula dwindle to about 100 individuals.

1957

Wisconsin’s state wolf bounty is repealed.

1960
  • Wolves are eliminated from Wisconsin.
  • Michigan’s state wolf bounty is repealed.

1965

Minnesota repeals wolf bounty.

1965-1974

Minnesota holds an open season on wolves and a directed predator control program.

1974
  • Wolves are listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
  • Michigan attempts to translocate four wolves from Minnesota into the Huron Mountains, but the project fails and the wolves are killed within eight months.

1975

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) declares the wolf endangered in the state.

Mid-1970’s

Wolves in Minnesota begin to disperse into Wisconsin.

1978
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) approves the 1978 Recovery Plan for the Eastern Timber Wolf.
  • Minnesota creates a compensation program to pay farmers for wolf-caused livestock losses.

1979

Wisconsin’s wolf research program is initiated.

1984

Wolves are listed as threatened in Minnesota

1989
  • Wolf tracks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula verify the wolf’s return.
  • Minnesota estimates 1,500 to 1,750 wolves roam the state.

1991

For the first time in 35 years, wolf pups are born in Michigan.

1992

FWS approves a revised version of the Recovery Plan for the Eastern Timber Wolf. The plan presents the criteria for delisting, which includes a Minnesota wolf population goal of 1,251-1,400 by the year 2000, and a combined population of greater than 100 individuals for five consecutive years in Michigan and Wisconsin.

1996

Wolf populations reach state recovery goals in Minnesota and state protections are removed.

1997

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI DNR) creates the Michigan Gray Wolf Recovery and Management Plan.

1998
  • A 1997-1998 survey estimates the Minnesota wolf population at about 2,450.
  • Defenders serves on the Minnesota Wolf Management Roundtable, consisting of representatives of environmental, agricultural, hunting, trapping, and wolf advocate organizations; government agencies and private citizens. The Roundtable provides guidance to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) in developing a wolf management plan.

1999

2000

The 2000 Minnesota Legislature passes a wolf management bill, which is signed into law by the governor.

2001

MN DNR completes the Minnesota Wolf Management Plan.

2002

Defenders purchases wolf pen enclosures to aid in the relocation of seven wolves onto tribal land in Wisconsin.

2002

In Michigan, the status for wolves is reclassified from state “endangered” to “threatened.”

2003
  • FWS releases a plan to establish three Distinct Population Segments for wolves in the lower 48 states and reclassify the status of wolves in the eastern portion of the United States from “endangered” to “threatened.”
  • In a federal district court, Defenders and 18 conservation organizations challenge the Administration’s plan arguing that their decision to lessen protections for wolves is not based solely on the best available science, as required by the federal ESA.
  • Through The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund, Defenders provides livestock guarding animals as an additional protection tool for sheep threatened by wolves and support to the WDNR to monitor wolf populations by airplane.

2004
  • Wolves are removed from Wisconsin’s state endangered species list and listed as a Protected Wild Animal.
  • Minnesota releases a population count, reporting that about 3,020 wolves roam the state.
  • Through The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund, Defenders supports projects totaling more than $13,000 including a livestock guarding dog research project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the placement of livestock guarding dogs to a Wisconsin farmer and the creation of an alternative grazing pasture for cattle experiencing conflicts with wolves in Wisconsin.

2005

Defenders provides funding to WDNR to conduct aerial monitoring and radio collaring of wolves. Both methods help determine precise wolf population information about pack size, territory size and range.

2005

The U. S. District Court rules for Defenders, specifically finding that the FWS’ actions were illegal because the agency reduced protections for wolves without determining that the species occupied all of the areas of its historic range that are required to ensure that the species will effectively recover. Wolves are once again offered full protections under the ESA.

2006
  • FWS proposes to create a Distinct Population Segment for gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region and remove federal protections for them.
  • The Michigan Wolf Roundtable is created. This advisory group of 20 diverse stakeholders, including Defenders of Wildife, submits recommendations for managing Michigan’s wolves to the MI DNR.
  • Wolf populations total 465 individuals in Wisconsin and 434 in Michigan.
  • Defenders purchases fladry for MI DNR to help prevent conflicts between wolves and livestock and provides financial support for fieldwork analyzing the effectiveness of livestock guard dogs for reducing livestock losses from wolves.

2007

Endangered Species Act protections wolves in the Western Great Lakes are removed and management authority is returned to state agencies. Populations counts report more than 4,000 wolves roam this region.