Wolf populations in the Lower Peninsula sparse, but up from decades ago - petoskeynews.com

Aebra Coe (231) 439-9397- acoe@petoskeynews.com

9:23 a.m. EDT, September 24, 2012

While wolf sightings in Northern Lower Michigan are rare, there have been scattered reports and trail camera videos over the last decade. The gray wolf, the species that once flourished here, was effectively eliminated for almost 80 years because of over-hunting and habitat destruction.

Wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were removed from the endangered species list in January of this year and are currently a protected non-game species in the state.

Wolf Sighting in Crawford County

Debbie C.
Standish, MI

Date of Sighting: Sunday, September 9, 2012
Time of Sighting: Approx. 1:00am

Crawford County

Michigan's wolves are coming back -- and costing state nearly $10,000 in lost livestock | Michigan news | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota paid out a record $154,136 to residents whose livestock or pets were killed by wolves in the past year, part of a gradual upward trend also seen in Wisconsin and Michigan — all states where the gray wolf came off the endangered list in January.

The claims provide further evidence that wolves are thriving in the Upper Midwest, even as animal rights groups protest plans for wolf hunting seasons this fall in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where state officials say populations have recovered enough to support limited hunting.