Michigan DNR Asking For Residents Help Tracking Wolves

Last year, many people were alarmed when pictures of a man holding up a large feline animal that he had killed while hunting began circulating online. This isn't totally abnormal as many different types of animals are hunted but this particular animal isn't hunted often, especially here in Michigan.

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Quickly, many people realized that the animal in the picture was a wolf and not a coyote or other large cat. This instantly worried a lot of people who have pets, children, or like to be out in nature themselves as the large cat can be dangerous. The man was properly dealt with by the Michigan DNR but now, the DNR is turning to the public for help.

The sighting and killing last year and other possible sightings have gotten the attention of the DNR here in Michigan and now they are looking into the wolf population in the Mitten State. The DNR was already aware that there was a decent wolf population in the Upper Peninsula, but now they want to know how many have migrated to the lower part of the mitten.

The Michigan DNR is collecting data, photos, and other evidence on wolf sightings in the lower peninsula. The survey will take place from February 17th to March 10th and residents are encouraged to send all information to the DNR's Eyes in the Field webpage.

Besides the recent sightings, the DNR says that wolves lived on this land naturally before human settlement and it's important to keep an eye the habitat, population, and sightings. The survey allows for a wider net to be cast than if the DNR tried to complete the investigation themselves.

Michigan DNR says that trail cameras are a great resource to capture evidence of wolves but also to look for fur, tracks or fecal matter. There were 97 reports of possible activity in the lower peninsula back in 2019 but most of them were confirmed to be dogs or coyotes.

Here are a list of wolves that have been seen or have known to have called Michigan home: