Wisconsin's gray wolf population has been removed, from the list of threatened and endangered species. That means the Department of Natural Resources will be able to reduce wolf numbers, to about 350 animals outside of tribal reservations. The DNR's Adrian Wydeven says wolf depredation of livestock has become more widespread in the past couple of years, with fairly rapid growth in the number of farms with depredation problems. Another concern has been wolves killing hunting dogs; Wydeven says there's little chance that activity will ever be free of risk. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the western Great Lakes population of gray wolves from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. Wydeven expects it will take two to three years to bring the state's wolf population 350 animals; public hunting may be a possibility at some point in the future.
