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Gray Wolf . Wildlife Management . Physical Characteristics. The gray wolf is also called the timber wolf. They are socially active and intelligent animals. Adult male wolves average about 80 lbs. Adult female wolves average about 70 lbs.
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Gray Wolf Wildlife Management
Physical Characteristics • The gray wolf is also called the timber wolf. • They are socially active and intelligent animals. • Adult male wolves average about 80 lbs. • Adult female wolves average about 70 lbs. • They stand about 30 inches high at the shoulder and measure 4 to 6 1/2 feet in length from nose to tail tip.
Physical Characteristics • With its prominent facial markings, the wolf resembles a German Shepard. • Dense underfur covered by coarse guard hairs enables the wolf to shed moisture and adds warmth. • Color phases range from white to gray to black, with grizzle gray the most common. • The wolf is often confused with its cousin the coyote.
Wolf Versus Coyote • The wolf has a broader muzzle, shorter ears, and is 2 to 3 time larger. • Wolves also generally lack the yellow and reddish tones in their coats.
History • In the late 19th and early 20th century wolves were eliminated from the most accessible regions of the US. • This included shooting, trapping, poisoning, and in latter stages, aerial hunting. • By 1918 the wolf had been eliminated from the southern 2/3 of MN.
History • In 1849 a $3 bounty was placed on timber wolves. • The bounty was removed in 1965. • From 1969 to 1974 certified trappers were authorized to take depredating wolves. • Wolves became protected in most of the Superior National Forest in 1970
History • The wolf remained unprotected outside the forest until 1974. • This is when federal protection was afforded under a more stringent Endangered Species Act. • In 1978 the wolf was reclassified to “threatened”. • This allowed federal authorities to kill wolves when livestock killings were verified.
Distribution • Wolves formerly occupied most of the northern hemisphere. • An estimated 25,000 wolves exist in Canada. • 5 to 10 thousand in Alaska. • MN has the largest wolf population in the lower 48 states.
Distribution • In MN the 17,000 square miles of primary wolf range include most of Cook, Beltrami, Lake, St. Louis, Koochiching, and Lake of the Woods counties. • During the last 15 years, wolves have increased and expanded their range south and west of this area. • They are now found in 35,000 square miles.
Wolves in Minnesota • Estimated at fewer than 750 animals in the 1950s, • Minnesota's 3,000 wolves are the largest population in the lower 48 states. • The population has remained relatively stable for the past 10 years.
Endangered Species removal • Minnesota's wolves transitioned from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act to state management by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Jan. 27, 2012. • Dan Stark MN DNR Wolf Specialist on Minnesota's Wolf Population • Wolf Discussions from the MN DNR
The 2012 Minnesota Legislature passed a bill providing for the first-ever wolf season. • A statewide winter population of 1,600 wolves is the minimum goal. If Minnesota's wolf population falls below this minimum, DNR will take immediate and appropriate management actions to reverse the decline and restore the population to its minimum. • The target harvest is 400 wolves.
Natural History • About 90% of MN’s wolves live in social groups called packs. • Packs generally have five to eight members. • A male, female, and their pups, plus sub-adult offspring. • The pack is a highly ordered social system based on dominance.
Natural History • A wolf pack typically defends a well defined area. • Territories are usually 30 to 120 square miles. • Unless prey is scarce, a pack will avoid crossing into a neighboring territory. • Howling advertises territorial claims and also functions to assemble the pack.
How do wolves communicate audibly? • Howling • Communal – life is good • Inter pack – avoidance mechanism • Intra pack – location query • Identify individual wolves • Limit the audible range of the howling • Woofs, barks, growls – Heightened chance of aggression • Squeaks, moans,
Marking the territory • Scent Glands • Urine Marking • Raised leg urination Dominant males • Flexed leg urination Dominant females • Squat urination Submissive females • Other means • Defecation • Scraping with paws • Scent rolling
Wolves are Territorial & Nomadic • Buffer zones between packs • Wolves eliminate mesopredators such as coyotes, raccoons and fox
What are wolf packs? • Breeding pair • The rest of the pack • Physically grown siblings not yet of breeding age • Pups of the year usually born in late April and early May • Dispersers and floaters • Den is rendezvous point • Wolf numbers seldom achieve a density of more than 1 per 7 to 10 square miles.
Natural History • Mating occurs in February. • Starvation conditions will halt gestation • 50 to 75 % of pups die. • Unlike domestic dogs, the wolf can only mate once a year. • This is usually done by the dominant pair in the pack.
Natural History • Four to seven young are born 63 days later. • This is done in a excavated burrow, hollow log, or rock crevice. • After weaning the pups are moved to an area above ground, usually near water.
Natural History • The care, feeding and education of the pups is shared by all pack members. • By October the pups are old enough to travel and hunt with the adult. • Wolves reach sexual maturity at about 22 months of age. • Wolves often disperse from the pack at this time.
Wolves Summary • Apex Predator • Family oriented • Self regulating population based on number of prey species and disease • Lead a short and dangerous life • Harmless to people • Dangerous to other animals including livestock and pets
What animals do wolves prey on? • Old, lame, infirm and young • Hoofed mammals • Deer and Elk • Moose • Livestock • Smaller mammals • Beaver • Rabbits • Rodents
Food Habits • The primary food of the timber wolf is the white-tailed deer. • Fawns and old animals comprise the majority of wolf killed deer. • It is estimated that 1 wolf takes an average of 20 deer/year including newborn fawns. • Wolves supplement their diet with beaver, snowshoe hare, and other small animals.
Food Habits • Moose are an important source of food where deer are scarce. • Wolves have the ability to size up prey. • This ability to assess the odds of successfully taking prey saves the wolves time and energy and reduces the risk of being injured. • A healthy deer or moose will generally escape an attack by outrunning the wolf.
Management • The maturation of northeastern forests has caused deer populations in the area to decline because older forests do not contain saplings. • Since deer are a primary food source for wolves, the population declines, increased wolf dispersal, and range expansion. • Range expansion into more settled areas increases the potential for conflict with people.
Management • Livestock depredation by wolves affects only a small number of MN livestock producers. • About 40 farmers experience losses to wolves in the state each year. • In response about 80 wolves are killed each year by US Department of Ag trappers. • 45,000 is paid by the MN Dept of Ag to partially compensate farmers for their losses.
Major causes of wolf mortality • Starvation • Caught trespassing in other pack’s territory • Territory invaded by other packs • Killed by intended prey • Disease • By humans • Trapping • Hunting • Poisoning
What is the “Dance of Death”? • Predator sizes up large potential prey • Is prey vulnerable, safe to test and attack • Potential prey tries to discourage predator • Wolves approach 20 moose for everyone they attack
