Gray wolf killed in Lower Peninsula by coyote hunter, DNR investigating

Schyler Perkins
·2 min read
1

CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. (WJMN) — A gray wolf was harvested by a hunter near Battle Creek during a coyote hunt in January, according to Brian Roell with the Department of Natural Resources.

Roell said Michigan’s known wolf population is limited to the Upper Peninsula. Despite that, when the hunter reported the kill earlier this year, genetic tests returned a positive match for a gray wolf.

“The department continues to search for wolves in the Lower Peninsula but has found only a few signs of wolf presence in that part of Michigan since the state’s wolf population became reestablished in the 1980s,” said Roell.

Researchers with the DNR say the animal is not currently believed to have been a part of an established population in the area, and that people there should not be concerned about running into one.

While the wolf was found well outside the animals’ known populations, Roell said data from collared wolves shows they occasionally travel thousands of miles outside of their typical ranges.

“This is an unusual case, and the DNR is actively delving into the matter to learn more about this particular animal’s origin,” said Brian Roell, large carnivore specialist for the DNR. “While rare, instances of wolves traversing vast distances have been documented, including signs of wolves in recent decades in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.”

In the northern end of the Lower Peninsula, wolf sightings have been slightly more common over the past 20 years.

In October 2004, another coyote hunter caught and killed a wolf in Presque Isle County that was originally collared by researchers in the eastern Upper Peninsula.

Track surveys by the DNR between 2011 and 2015 also found wolf-like tracks in Cheboyban and Emmet counties.

In 2014, biologists from the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians caught images of a wolf on a trail camera while researching eagles in the area.

However, Roell said a DNR track survey looking for signs of wolves found no evidence in 2019. Another survey of the area is planned for next year.

“Wolves in Michigan are currently an endangered species by federal court order. Wolves can be killed only if they are a direct and immediate threat to human life. Livestock owners affected by wolf depredation can receive compensation for their losses. Hunting wolves while they are on the endangered species list is prohibited,” said Roell.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.