Proper Management of Wisconsin Wolves will be good for all concerned...including the wolves.
Wolves, like all animals, need to be properly managed. The Wisconsin Wolf Advisory Committee recommended a management goal of 350 wolves for our state in 1999, and reaffirmed that number in 2007. That goal was met in 2004. Since then, a series of legal moves has prevented proper management and allowed the wolf population to skyrocket. Today, following the 2021 hunt, Wisconsin still has approximately 630 more wolves than the recommended management goal of 350.
This is not a question of some people liking wolves more than others; I count myself among those who like them. Rather, it’s a simple question of proper wolf management. 350 wolves was recommended for Wisconsin and 350 wolves should be the management goal going forward. After 3 consecutive years of a stable population of 350, the impact should be assessed and numbers adjusted accordingly. That will serve all concerned...including the wolves.
John Ellis
On Wisconsin Outdoors