Wolf Sightings on Green Circle Trail in Stevens Point

[gallon]

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources agrees that wolf sightings in these areas are quite plausible. I have taken the liberty of inquiring with the DNR about this, and they give a reply with some additional detail. With his permission, here is the response from Dr. Adrian Wydeven. Note the link for reporting sightings to the DNR. I would encourage you guys to follow through with that and report your sightings. Helps the DNR to keep an accurate picture of wolf distribution.

My initial inquiry to DNR:

From: Gary Longrie [mailto:longrieg@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2008 10:56 PM
To:
Cc: longrieg@gmail.com
Subject: wolf sighting Stevens Point July 4th



Hi David

Found your name via google. A wolf sighting is claimed in the Stevens Point area.
This is posted in the WI City Data forum:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/wisconsin/

Another poster follows up with mention of a sighting in Baraboo hills.

I myself am skeptical, but thought these should be brought to someone's attention.
Please distribute this to the appropriate people. I have also sent this to Kerry Martin
but his machine tells me he is in the field.

As for me, it's cougars that are the most intriguing.

regards
Gary
longrieg@gmail.com

David's reply:

From: Mladenoff, David
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 8:47 AM
To: 'Gary Longrie'
Cc: Wydeven, Adrian P - DNR
Subject: RE: wolf sighting Stevens Point July 4th

Gary,

Both are possible, given how wolves have been shown to disperse long distances. But if course there are many mistaken claimed sightings.

I am copying Adrian Wydeven with the DNR, he is the person you want.

David Mladenoff

Response from Adrian Wydeven:

On Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 2:54 PM, Wydeven, Adrian P - DNR wrote:
Gary:

It certainly possible that it could be a wolf. I suspect wolves sometimes follow the Wisconsin River. In recent years we have had at least 3 wolves killed along U.S. 51 between Stevens Point and Wausau. Plus the Mead Wildlife Area has a regular pack of 2-6 wolves over recent years. A few years ago a radiocollared wolf spent much of the summer in and around Dewey Marsh.

I saw one of the people comment that wolves were reintroduced. This is not true, wolves returned to WI on their own. Some were moved across the north when they caused depredations, but these were only released on national forest and Indian reservations, but no wolves were brought into WI from other states.

Wolf observations can be reported directly on our wolf web site:

WDNR - Wisconsin Rare Mammal Observation Form

Canid Identification - WDNR

Thank you,
Adrian P. Wydeven
Mammalian Ecologist/ Conservation Biologist
875 South 4th Ave.
Bureau of Endangered Resources
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Park Falls, WI 54552

I hope that is usefull. You guys have done good work. I guess there really may be wolves in central Wisconsin after all.

Gary

[ben242000]

Originally Posted by gallon

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources agrees that wolf sightings in these areas are quite plausible. I have taken the liberty of inquiring with the DNR about this, and they give a reply with some additional detail. With his permission, here is the response from Dr. Adrian Wydeven. Note the link for reporting sightings to the DNR. I would encourage you guys to follow through with that and report your sightings. Helps the DNR to keep an accurate picture of wolf distribution.

My initial inquiry to DNR:

David's reply:

Response from Adrian Wydeven:


I hope that is usefull. You guys have done good work. I guess there really may be wolves in central Wisconsin after all.

Gary

That's cool that the wolves weren't re-introduced, but came on their own.

And to an early poster wondering what part of the green circle trail she spotted it on, well she's coming over with her family for brunch on sunday, so I'll ask her then and fill you in on the answer.

[Clutch Cargo]

Thanks. I bet it will either be on the new section west of the river or the far northern (and underused) section.
Also, could you find out what time of day it was?

[ben242000]

My aunt saw it around the shooting range, near the airport. She said it was very close to her AND Hwy 66, and heading towards the airport. She saw it around 7 AM.