Note: This article includes a summary of the recent history of the legal and ecological status of wolves in the Great Lakes Region of the United States. This is a complex story - although I've tried to be concise, I've also tried to be thorough. Those wishing to read only a brief synopsis of the most recent status (updated July 2012) may skip ahead to the Current Status section.

In the last article Part 3: Back from the Brink we examined the change in public attitudes and policies that led to a dramatic turn in the prospects for wolves in the lower 48 contiguous States of the US. After the passage of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973 and the subsequent protection granted to wolves in 1974, the intelligent and adaptable predator did not take long to reap the benefits of its new status in the eyes and the laws of humans. In this article we will examine the remarkable recovery of the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes region.

© 2005 Steve Geer (istockphoto.com)

A subspecies of gray wolf that once ranged wide regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States including Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is today one of North America’s rarest indigenous large mammals, existing precariously in the wild only as a small, intensely managed population in a limited area of eastern Arizona and western New Mexico [1]. Typically inhabiting warmer and drier environs and often relying on smaller prey, “lobos” (as they are also called) are somewhat smaller than other gray wolf subspecies to the north, averaging between 50 and 80 lbs (about the size of German shepherd dogs). They also have more pointed ears and shorter coats – which are often colored with rich patterns of gray, gold, rust, black, and white – and they usually form smaller packs. Although Mexican wolves were extirpated from the wild before their behavior and ecology could be thoroughly studied, it is believed they preferred mountainous dry-forest landscapes and originally preyed mostly on mule deer, white-tailed deer, javelina (also known as peccaries), elk, and smaller mammals such as rabbits.

Note: The situation with wolves in the United States changes rapidly. This article, first published on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation's website in June, 2010, is being republished to bring it up to date with recent developments. The recent history of the legal and population status of wolves in the northwestern and western-central United States is a complex story - those wishing to read only a brief summary of the most recent status (as of December 2011) may want to skip ahead to the Current Status section.  - AES.

The war against the wolf in the Western US during the late 1800s and early 1900s was especially virulent. As more of the landscape was allotted to livestock and more of the wolf’s natural prey was eliminated (especially buffalo), wolves preyed more on the ungulates most available to them – domestic livestock like sheep and cows – and the campaign against the predator escalated [1]. While the war was fueled by economic interests (not only to protect livestock and reap bounties, but also for pelts), unreasonable fear and hatred motivated some wolfers (people who killed wolves) to not only kill but also torture their targets. Wolves were burned alive, clubbed, hung, or left to starve with their lower jaws cut out or their Achilles tendons severed. Yet, in spite of the veracity and persistence of their pursuers, wolves proved to be resilient, and some individual wolves even became legendary for their ability to elude hunters and trappers.

Publicerat: onsdag 01 december kl 18:09, Radio Sweden


Wolves at a zoo in Skåne province

It is possible to strengthen the Swedish wolf population by importing wolves from other countries according to a new report by the Environmental Protection Agency and two other agencies.

The plan is to import at least 20 wolves by 2014 to prevent inbreeding and ten county administration boards have been asked to find places where the new wolves could be moved.

“We have reached the conclusion that it is possible to strengthen the wolf population by importing wolves to Sweden,” Maria Ågren, director general of the agency told Swedish Radio News.

At the same time the much criticised license hunt for wolves will continue but according to Ågren this doesn’t necessarily hurt the wolf population.

“The main problem in Sweden is the genetics not the number of wolves. We can keep the population at a stable level but it is important to strengthen the genetics.”


Link to the Article