Minnesota Wolf Depredation Update 2014

Authors: John Hart, USDA-APHIS-WS and Dan Stark, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Presentation given at 2015 Midwest Wolf Stewards Conference at Northland College. April 2015.

Transcript

1. Minnesota Wolf
   Depredation Update
   2014
   John Hart
   USDA-APHIS-WS
   34912 U.S. Hwy 2
   Grand Rapids, MN 55744
   (218) 327-3350
   john.p.hart@usda.gov
   Dan Stark
   Minnesota DNR
   1201 Hwy 2 East
   Grand Rapids, MN 55744
   (218) 999-7802
   dan.stark@state.mn.us
   

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2.  Management reverts back to what it was prior to
   January 2012
    Taking wolves in defense of human life
    Depredation control allowed for verified depredation on
   domestic animals, except Federal wolf management Zone 1
    Wolf removal assistance statewide for human safety
    No depredation control trapping by certified gray wolf
   controllers
    No funding for WS wolf depredation control until March 17,
   2015
   On the ground impacts of 2014 Wolf Court
   Ruling
   

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3. MN Wolf Management Zones
   – Federal – State
   

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4. Wolf Depredation Management
   Wolf Complaint Data 2012 2013 2014
   Total complaints verified 122 70 86
   Total livestock complaints verified 113 65 71
   # of domestic dog verified complaints 9 5 15
   Wolves trapped verified complaints 262 114 197
   Zone B wolves trapped - historic losses 17 5 15
   Certified trappers employed 13
   Wolves shot* 16 8 10
   * Legally shot to protect livestock or pets
   

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5. Domestic animals verified killed by wolves
   in MN in 2014
   does not include animals only wounded by wolves
   • 64 calves, 2 yearling
   • 8 cows
   • 21 sheep
   • 2 mini horses
   • 1 goat
   • 5 dogs killed,
   – 14 dogs attacked/
   injured
   

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6. 2015 so far
   • YTD 56 complaints received
   • 27 Verified
   • 10 pet dogs killed or wounded
   

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7. 2015 a busy start
   • Mild winter/early spring
   • Low deer numbers
   • Good deer survival
   • Deer distribution – higher deer densities
   around towns and residences
   • Cattle out on pasture sooner
   

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8. Dogs -some are killed and fed on
   

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9. Some are just killed -wolf bites to dog
   throat
   

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10. Wolves Captured and/or Removed
    in Minnesota for depredation
    management
    0
    50
    100
    150
    200
    250
    300
    1970
    1971
    1972
    1973
    1974
    1975
    1976
    1977
    1978
    1979
    1980
    1981
    1982
    1983
    1984
    1985
    1986
    1987
    1988
    1989
    1990
    1991
    1992
    1993
    1994
    1995
    1996
    1997
    1998
    1999
    2000
    2001
    2002
    2003
    2004
    2005
    2006
    2007
    2008
    2009
    2010
    2011
    2012
    No. Wolves Captured No. Wolves Killed
    

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11. Minnesota Wolf Compensation Program
    • Compensation is paid by the Minnesota Department
    of Agriculture.
    • Livestock producers are currently compensated at
    full market value for livestock killed by wolves.
    • “Missing” livestock are not paid for – a sore point
    with producers.
    • No compensation paid for pets, including guarding
    dogs.
    

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12. Wolf Damage Compensation Payments
    

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13. Minnesota Wolf Depredation Complaints
    

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14. Minnesota Wolf Depredation Trapping
    

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15. Voyageurs National Park 2015
    

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21. Questions?
    

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22. Eastern Timber Wolf Recovery Wolf Management Zones
    

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23. Minnesota Wolf Range
    (14,094 mi2) 1,235 wolves
    (23,235 mi2) 1,521 wolves
    *(34,102 mi2) 2,445 - 2,921
    (36,718 mi2) 2,211
    *Total wolf range for 1998, 2004, and 2008 did not change. 2004
    population estimate 3,020 wolves.
    

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