Are there wolves in MI?

Asked by: Jeannette Shiver

The state Department of Natural Resources says there are around 600 gray wolves in Michigan.

Where are wolves in Michigan?

Roughly 700 wolves live in Michigan, all in the Upper Peninsula, according to the DNR’s latest count in 2019-2020. Wolves roamed the state in the early 1800s. They vanished from the Lower Peninsula in 1935 and had virtually disappeared from the Upper Peninsula by the early 1970s.

What is the population of wolves in Michigan?

The comeback of the wolf in Michigan is a remarkable wildlife success story, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The most recent survey of gray wolves, conducted between December 2019 and March 2020, by the Michigan DNR counted a minimum of 695 wolves, compared to only 20 wolves in 1992.

Are there wolves in the lower part of Michigan?

Wolves began naturally returning to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula via Canada and Wisconsin in the early 1990s. Since that time populations have increased and continue to expand their range. Evidence of range expansion into the Lower Peninsula came when a gray wolf was accidentally killed in Presque Isle County in 2004.

How many wolves are in Michigan 2021?

Today, Michigan’s wolf population numbers close to 700 individuals in the Upper Peninsula. Gray wolves were removed from the federal endangered species list in early 2021, a decision that is currently being challenged in court.

How far south are wolves in Michigan?

Gray wolves have been found only rarely in the past 15 years in the Lower Peninsula north of highway M-55, which runs east-west between Manistee on Lake Michigan and Tawas City on Lake Huron, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). And none has recently been detected south of that highway.

Do mountain lions live in Michigan?

While mountain lions are native to Michigan, their numbers diminished to almost zero by the 1900s. The animals are protected by state law as an endangered species.

Are Wolverines in Michigan?

There are currently no wolverines in the Wolverine State (other than a few in Ann Arbor). The last known specimen is in the stuffed animal collection of Gary Kaberle of Traverse City; it was killed in the 1860’s. As far as is known, there is no evidence that wolverines were ever commercially trapped in Michigan.

Are wolves a problem in Michigan?

They remained all-but-absent from Michigan until the 1980s, when they began to migrate from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Since then, their numbers have steadily increased to some 700 today — all of them north of the Mackinac Bridge.

Are there wolves in Copper Harbor?

Grey wolf and Cougar have been sighted but it’s rare indeed. Though there’s not as much wildlife to view during the winter months, there are some interesting changes that occur. There are some animals and birds that stick around, they just look different.

Are there moose in Michigan?

Moose are currently found in two areas of the Upper Peninsula: the reintroduced population in Marquette, Baraga and Iron counties, and a smaller remnant population in the eastern UP, found primarily in Alger, Schoolcraft, Luce and Chippewa counties.

Are bobcats in Michigan?

Bobcats are medium-sized, nocturnal felines that are closely related to Canada lynx. Bobcats, lynx, and cougars are the three species of wildcats known to inhabit the Great Lakes region. Among those wild cats, natural resources officials said bobcats are the most abundant in Michigan.

Does Michigan have bears?

The black bear (Ursus americanus) is the only species of bear found in Michigan. In Michigan, most black bears have black or extremely dark brown fur. Other color variations, including brown, cinnamon, grayish-blue and blonde, are found mostly in western North America.

Are Grizzlies in Michigan?

The only species of bear found in Michigan is the black bear. Michigan’s forestland in the Upper Peninsula provides the ideal habitat for the species, with ample food and plenty of cover.

Are there elk in Michigan?

Michigan’s elk herd
One of Michigan’s most sought after viewing species is the elk, and Michigan’s Pigeon River Country State Forest is home to one of the largest free-roaming elk herds east of the Mississippi. About one thousand elk live in the elk range of southern Cheboygan, Otsego and Montmorency Counties.