Wolf Mortality Study

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources would like to determine the primary causes of wolf mortality in relation to both human population and suitable wolf habitat. Determining these relationships may help in both current and future management activities.

This study will evaluate the relationships between human population density and suitable wolf habitat. Both concepts will be defined by a distance relationship from the location of the wolf carcass to the respective study area. Population density will be based on a gradient of high population to low population. The exact nature of this gradient has yet to be determined. The suitable wolf habitat will be defined by the Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan as published by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Oct. 27, 1999. Both primary and secondary wolf habitats will be evaluated. The data on wolf mortality will be supplied by the WI-DNR as well, and will include only those wolf carcasses that were previously radio collared.

Three primary data layers will be included in the analysis. The Wolf Mortality layer will include locational and causal data on wolf mortality. The Human Population layer will be used to determine the gradient of population density. The Suitable Habitat layer will include both Primary and Secondary wolf habitat locations.

Contact Information:
Jennifer Hansen
jlhansen@sprintmail.com