Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources says there are likely more wolves in the state than previously estimated thanks to a change in how wolves are counted.
DNR officials were using territory mapping to produce a minimum wolf count, but they’ve moved to an occupancy model, which they say produces highly reliable estimates, provides a more realistic total population size and efficiently makes use of state resources.
The old territory mapping method showed a likely 13% increase in the number of wolves, putting the minimum overwinter count at more than 1,034 wolves with as many as 1,057. Using the new occupancy method, DNR large carnivore specialists say there are an estimated 1,047 wolves, but there might be as many as 1,573.
