Wolf issues

WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN

By RVL / August 3, 2023

WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN

Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan 

The DNR released a new revised draft of the plan on Aug. 1, 2023 and encourages the public to read through it. The revised plan will be presented to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) during their October meeting.

Revisions to the draft plan were made in response to public comments on a prior version of the draft plan (released in Nov., 2022). DNR staff reviewed and considered all 3,500 comments. These comments helped the DNR further refined the plan into the revised version now available.

Of special note is an improved executive summary that summarized the major proposals and components of the draft plan. The executive summary can be found at the beginning of the plan itself. The DNR recommends reading through the executive summary before reading the rest of the revised plan.  

Those interested in the history behind the production of this draft management plan can find a curated timeline below. If you want to stay up to date on what is happening with the Wolf Management Plan, please consider subscribing to the Wolf Management Plan mailing list.

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The Wisconsin DNR is currently in the process of updating our state’s wolf management plan. Since the DNR manages wolves according to this plan and following state and federal laws, the DNR takes this revision process very seriously and remains committed to a transparent, deliberative and inclusive management plan update process that recognizes the diversity of interest areas regarding wolf management.

The prior Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan underwent a review process in 2005-06 and was last updated in 2007, so it was time to review the management plan. Wisconsin’s wolf population has changed in the years since, and our understanding of population dynamics has also improved. The current process to revise Wisconsin’s wolf management plan is intended and designed to produce a plan that reflects scientifically sound and culturally relevant management of this iconic, native species.

WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE PROCESS

The wolf management plan provides overall guidance to the state’s wolf management efforts. During the plan update process, the DNR collected extensive public input through a wolf management plan committee, an online questionnaire and an opportunity to review and comment on an initial draft of the management plan. Throughout the process, the DNR also worked closely with our tribal partners and other natural resource professionals involved in wolf management in Wisconsin.

The public is encouraged to subscribe to the Wolf Management Plan mailing list for the most up-to-date information on current and upcoming events, public input opportunities and progress updates.

UPDATED TIMELINE (NEWEST TO OLDEST)

Next Steps

  • DRAFT PLAN GOES TO THE BOARD: The current (revised) version of the Wolf Management Plan will go the Natural Resources Board (NRB) later this year, likely in October.
  • TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS: The DNR will continue to invite further government-to-government consultations with tribal nations in Wisconsin.

​​​​Summer 2023

  • DNR SHARED REVISED DRAFT PLAN WITH THE PUBLIC: The DNR shared a new revised draft of the plan on Aug. 1. Thank you to everyone who provided a comment and being interested in wolf management in Wisconsin.

Winter 2023

  • COMMENTS ARE AVAILABLE: The public can review the comments received during the public comment period.
  • DNR HOSTED A LISTENING SESSION:  During the public comment and review period, the DNR hosted a virtual listening session on Tuesday, Feb. 7. A recording of this listening session is available on the DNR’s YouTube channel.
  • The PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD ENDED FEB. 28:  After 111 days and over 3000 comments received, the public review and comment period officially ended on Feb. 28.

Fall 2022

  • SCIENTIFIC PUBLIC OPINIONS SURVEY COMPLETE: The scientific survey was completed, and the results were incorporated into the draft plan.
  • DNR SHARED DRAFT PLAN WITH THE PUBLIC, REQUESTS PUBLIC REVIEW: The DNR shared the draft plan on Nov. 10 and began a public review and comment period.

Spring and Summer 2022

  • TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS: The DNR invited and participated in government-to-government consultations with tribal nations in Wisconsin.
  • SCIENTIFIC PUBLIC OPINIONS SURVEY: The DNR conducted an updated scientific assessment of Wisconsin residents’ opinions about and attitudes toward wolves and wolf management.
  • DNR CONTINUED UPDATING THE PLAN: The DNR continued to draft the updated plan.

February 2022

  • WMPC INPUT REPORT PUBLISHED: DNR Wolf Management Plan Committee’s input report was published on the DNR website.
  • DNR CONTINUED UPDATING THE PLAN: The DNR continued to update the plan based on the best available science, public input and WMPC report, all following current state and federal law.

January 2022

  • DNR PROVIDED A PLAN UPDATE TO NRB: DNR provided an update on progress at the January 2022 Natural Resources Board meeting.

November 2021

  • DNR BEGAN DRAFTING AN UPDATED PLAN: The DNR began drafting natural history, human dimensions and historical chapters for inclusion in the revised management plan.

July – October 2021

  • WMPC MEETINGS: The WMPC convened a series of four meetings to discuss wolves and wolf management and provide input on the revised wolf management plan.

April – May 2021

  • PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD OPENED FROM APRIL 15 TO MAY 15: The public was invited to comment and provide input on the future of wolf management in Wisconsin.

February – March 2021

  • INVITED TRIBAL PARTNERS: The DNR invited tribal participation and membership in the new Wolf Management Plan Committee (WMPC).
  • WMPC APPLICATION OPENED: The application period opened for stakeholder organizations to apply for a seat on the committee.

PUBLIC INPUT QUESTIONNAIRE

The DNR developed an online public input questionnaire to collect all interested individuals’ input on wolf management from April 15 to May 15, 2021. A short memo of the public opinion survey is available and includes a summary and analysis of the data collected. These results were presented during the July 22 meeting of the Wolf Management Plan Committee, and those slides and presentations are available for viewing (below).

WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN COMMITTEE

Read the Wolf Management Plan Committee’s Final Report here.

Members were named for the Wolf Management Plan Committee (WMPC) following an application and invitation process in Spring 2021. The WMPC’s purpose was to provide input to the DNR during the development of an updated wolf management plan, ultimately resulting in a wolf management plan with broad public and scientific support.

The WMPC was an inclusive and diverse committee comprised of individuals representing hunting/trapping organizations, wolf advocacy/education organizations and agricultural/ranching organizations. In addition to these stakeholder seats, there was representation by other government agencies, tribes and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.

To learn more about the WMPC’s purpose, membership and specifications, check out the committee charter, the committee roster and the introduction packet.

WMPC MEETING #1 – JULY 22, 2021

On July 22, 2021, the Wolf Management Plan Committee met virtually for the first time. You can review the meeting materials below or watch a recording of the meeting.

WMPC MEETING #2 – AUG. 19, 2021

On Aug. 19, 2021, the Wolf Management Plan Committee met virtually for the second time. You can review the meeting materials below or watch the recording of the meeting.

WMPC MEETING #3 – SEPT. 23, 2021

On Sept. 23, 2021, the Wolf Management Plan Committee met virtually for the third time. You can review the meeting materials below or watch the meeting recording.

WMPC MEETING #4 – OCT. 21, 2021

On Oct. 21, 2021, the Wolf Management Plan Committee met virtually for the fourth time. You can review the meeting materials below or watch the meeting recording.

SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENTS OF PUBLIC OPINIONS TOWARDS WOLVES

The DNR conducted a scientific survey on Wisconsinites’ attitudes toward wolves and wolf management in 2014. You can read the full report on that 2014 survey here.

In 2022, the DNR conducted another scientific assessment of Wisconsinites’ attitudes toward wolves and wolf management. This study measured current public opinions about wolves, as well as changes in opinions and attitudes since the 2014 survey. The results were used to help inform the development of the updated draft plan. The 2022 public opinion survey is available for all to view.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WISCONSIN’S WOLF POPULATION AND MANAGEMENT

Visit our page on Wolves in Wisconsin to learn more about our state’s wolf population and the DNR’s wolf management program. To learn more about wolf conflict management, visit the Gray Wolf Depredation and Reports page.

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