Where Wolves Roam
Wolves in Michigan are predominantly found across the Upper Peninsula, where vast forested areas and lower human population densities provide suitable habitat. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducts regular surveys, with the 2024 winter wolf population survey estimating a minimum of 762 wolves in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This number shows an increase from the 2022 estimate of 631 animals, though it reflects a continued trend of statistical stability over the past 14 years, suggesting the population may have reached its carrying capacity in the Upper Peninsula. While established breeding populations are confined to the Upper Peninsula, occasional transient sightings occur in the northern Lower Peninsula; individual wolves can travel long distances, but these do not indicate established breeding populations. Wolves prefer habitats that offer minimal human disturbance and a robust prey base, primarily consisting of white-tailed deer, moose, and beaver, in areas with extensive forest cover and low road densities.
Managing Michigan’s Wolf Population
The management of Michigan’s wolf population involves a complex interplay of state and federal regulations, reflecting the species’ recovery. Wolves have experienced several changes in their legal status under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 2003, with periods of listing and delisting. Currently, wolves in Michigan are federally listed as an endangered species, which places management authority primarily at the federal level, despite being delisted at the state level. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plays a central role in wolf management, irrespective of their federal status. The DNR’s responsibilities include conducting population surveys, monitoring wolf distribution, and developing management plans to maintain a viable wolf population and address conflicts like livestock depredation; the state’s wolf management plan was most recently revised in 2022.
A History of Return
Wolves were once widespread across Michigan, but systematic eradication efforts, including hunting, trapping, and bounties, led to their near extirpation by the early 20th century. By 1910, wolves were largely absent from the Lower Peninsula, and their numbers in the Upper Peninsula significantly declined by the 1960s. The natural recolonization of wolves in Michigan began in the 1970s and 1980s, primarily driven by wolves dispersing from thriving populations in neighboring Wisconsin and Minnesota. The first confirmed reproducing wolf pack in Michigan’s mainland Upper Peninsula was documented in 1991, marking a significant milestone in their return. This natural migration, coupled with protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act, allowed the wolf population to grow steadily, leading to the robust numbers observed today.