Michigan DNR seeking public’s help with northern Lower Peninsula wolf survey

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division is seeking the public’s help in conducting a community-based northern Lower Peninsula survey to detect any potential presence of gray wolves.

The survey, which will rely heavily on reports from the public of wolf sightings and other potential evidence, will take place from Feb. 17 through March 10.

“Our efforts will be concentrated in the norther Lower Peninsula which does contain some limited suitable habitat that could potentially support a small wolf population,” said Brian Roell, Michigan Department of Natural Resources large carnivore specialist in Marquette.

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Sightings, photos and other signs of wolf presence can be reported by the public to the DNR’s Eyes in the Field webpage. Reports including photos or other evidence will be reviewed and a reply will be sent from DNR Wildlife Division staffers.

Those who have wolf information to report, but without access to a computer or smart phone, may contact Tim Riley at the DNR’s Grayling field office at 989-370-7313 or RileyT6@michigan.gov.

“By enlisting help from the public, we can exponentially increase the number of eyes out there looking for wolves,” Roell said. “With few records of wolves in the northern Lower Peninsula in modern times, efforts to find them will be challenging and there is the distinct possibility that they are not present at this time.”

DNR wildlife biologists said it is important that those making wolf reports do so in a timely manner to give biologists time to confirm fresh wolf sign. Track photos should include a ruler in the frame to show the track size.

Wolves were removed from the state in the early part of the 20th century by habitat loss, bounties and prejudice.

However, with the help of the Endangered Species Act, and a better understanding of the role wolves play in a healthy ecosystem, they began a gradual and natural return to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula through Ontario, Canada and Wisconsin in the early 1990s.

Since that time, the wolf population has increased and now occupies all available suitable habitat throughout the U.P. Surveys have shown that the U.P. wolf population has remained relatively stable over the past 14 years. The latest assessment, conducted during the winter of 2023-2024, estimated a minimum of 768 wolves in the U.P.

“To our knowledge, wolves have not successfully re-established themselves in the Lower Peninsula.

While the Straits of Mackinac is not an absolute barrier for wolves moving from the U.P. to the northern Lower Peninsula, it is a significant obstacle, especially when there is not complete ice cover on the confluence of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron at the straits.

The first observation of a gray wolf in the northern Lower Peninsula in recent times was in 2004, when a wolf was accidentally killed in Presque Isle County. In 2014, the presence of a gray wolf was identified through genetic analysis of a scat sample collected in Emmet County.

In January 2024, a coyote hunter in Calhoun County harvested a large animal that was later confirmed by the DNR to be a gray wolf. The presence of this wolf in Calhoun County remains a matter of investigation by the DNR.

Though wolves can travel thousands of miles, the department does not suspect the animal was part of an established population in the southern Lower Peninsula.

In 2019, the DNR conducted a similar community-based wolf survey in the northern Lower Peninsula. A total of 97 reports of possible wolf activity were received. Of those, most were determined to be tracks of dogs or coyotes or were unable to be verified.

Two reports from Kalkaska and Montmorency counties were deemed credible, prompting DNR wildlife staffers to continue monitoring the area for additional signs of wolf activity.

This winter’s wolf survey is being conducted in partnership with the DNR, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

Information on wolves in Michigan and links to other wolf-related web pages can be found at Michigan.gov/Wolves.