New Wisconsin wolf plan eliminates state population goal

Wisconsin wildlife officials have released their first new wolf management plan in almost a quarter-century, but it doesn’t establish any statewide population goals. The DNR adopted a wolf management plan in 1999 that caps the statewide population at 350. As the number of wolves in Wisconsin has increased — the DNR released estimates in September showing that the population currently stands at 970. The draft plan eliminates the statewide population goal. Instead, it recommends the DNR monitor local populations within the state’s six wolf hunting zones and decide whether to reduce the local population, keep it stable or allow it to grow.