Evaluating The Scientific Soundness Of Plans For Harvesting Wolves To Manage Depredations In Michigan

One of the two reasons offered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MIDNR) for harvesting wolves is to reduce the number of depredations. The MI-DNR describes its plan for achieving this goal as being geographically targeted. In particular, the MI-DNR has identified three wolf management units (WMU) for 2013 where it will focus wolf harvesting (Fig. 1). For example, in WMU B 80 livestock on 11 farms were reported to have been killed by wolves between January 2010 and April 2013. In response, the MI-DNR plans to harvest 19 wolves in WMU B during Fall of 2013. They estimate that number of wolves to be harvested represents about 20% of the wolves living in WMU B. The intention is to reduce the number of depredations in WMU B. The MI-DNR has plans to harvest wolves at similar rates in WMU C to reduce depredations and in WMU A to reduce the number of humans making nuisance complaints about wolves.