UNDATED (WSAU-WXPR) — A DNR wildlife biologist is asking trappers who incidentally capture wolves are encouraged to contact department staff and participate in Wisconsin’s wolf collaring and monitoring program.
“For a number of years, we’ve asked trappers to cooperate with this voluntary effort, so basically what we’re trying to do is get additional radio collars out into the wolf population,” said biologist Nathan Libal. “Having these radio collars allows us to track animal movements, delineate packs and ultimately give us an idea how many are out there.”
Libal says they get about 10 radio collars placed each season. In the event of an incidental wolf capture, Libal says DNR staff will work closely with the participating trappers to determine if the wolf is a good candidate for the monitoring program.
Interested trappers can contact DNR wolf program staff by calling Libal at 715-401-1764. If you don’t hear back from a DNR staffer within a half-hour, you should release the animal.
After a survey last winter, the DNR estimates there are 925 wolves in Wisconsin, the strongest numbers on record. Wolves are listed in the federal Endangered Species Act with management by federal officials. The state’s authority to control the population was removed in 2012 following a federal judge’s ruling.
