The Dnr's wolf numbers have been way off for a long time. One because it would effect tourism and 2 they don't want a big out cry from the people. If you do the math on the birth rates of wolves you can actually come close to the number that are in your area. I worked up some math one nigh and this is what I came up with. I think I'm closer to the actual number of wolves then the DNR claims. Wisconsin Wolf Population Growth by the Numbers In this scenario we are going to look at how significant a wolf pack can grow strictly by data giving to us by wildlife biologists and the Wisconsin DNR. Using average numbers of males to female, birth rate and mortality rate we can hypostasize the actual number of wolves in Clark County Wisconsin. Starting in 2006 the Wisconsin DNR reported that there was a wolf pack consisting of 12 wolves. Using statistics from The Journal of Wildlife Management and other publications we have determined that the male to female ratio is 56% male to 44% female, each female on average will have a litter of 6 pups. Studies have shown the pup mortality rate to be as high as 50%, also we will also figure in a 15% kill rate for natural, accidental and illegal kills. There are no hard statistics to verify what percentage of natural, accidental and illegal kills there are. Year # of wolves # of females # of pups born Surviving Pups Kills 2006 12 5 30 15 2 2007 25 11 66 33 4 2008 54 23 138 69 8 2009 155 51 306 153 23 2010 285 125 750 375 43 2011 617 271 1626 813 93 2012* 1337 588 3528 1764 +33 234 2013* 2867 1261 7566 3783 +60 490 2014 6160 *indicates years in which wolf hunting was allowed + equals the number of wolves killed in that zone on the above hunt If you look at the decrease in in deer population over the same period of time it almost mirrors the increase in wolf population. 1200 sq. miles in Clark County – 30% for uninhabitable hunting land. 840 sq. mile of deer habitable hunting land. 2005 was 105 deer per habitable square mile 2012 was 37 deer per habitable square mile 2005 deer population 88200 2012 deer population 31080 Difference -57120 Wolves have been known to eat anywhere from 18 to 22 deer a year. I’m going to say each wolf will consume 20 deer per year on average. Year Number of Wolves Number of deer consumed 2006 12 240 2007 25 500 2008 54 1,080 2009 155 3,100 2010 285 5,700 2011 617 12,340 2012 1337 26,740 TOTAL 49,700
Yep...lots of smart people up here. And lots of wolves too. PS... wolves are known to kill coyotes, who in turn are the biggest dear predators. So the effect on dear populations might not be as bad.
