It's official; Wisconsin's wolves are removed from the federal endangered species list. A press conference in Ashland with state, federal and tribal authorities formalized the recognition, that Wisconsin's once decimated wolf population has rebounded. Adrian Wydeven, a mammal ecologist with the DNR, says there are some 500 wolves in the state now. He expects that over the next twelve months, between 30 and 50 of those animals will either be trapped or shot, because of depredation on domestic livestock. A compensation program will also remain in place, for wolf attacks on both livestock and pets. Wolves in Michigan and Minnesota have also been removed from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act and will be managed by those states.
