A rare wolf missing from a Forest Lake science center was seen early Wednesday in Anoka County when a picture-snapping resident captured a blurry image near lower Coon Lake. Newspapers.com will soon offer a … At times, the wolf came within feet of Netter’s car. Wolves commonly live six to eight years but up to 13 years is possible. Respect the wolf’s space and do not approach it. Do not surprise the wolf. There was then a slow decline in sightings before a sharp jump to seven in 2018 and now 12 in 2020. About 40 minutes after the call from Hatch, Koplin and DNR Conservation Officer Brett Wiltrout convened north of Bird Island, about five miles east of Olivia. Afterward, Netter reported the rare sighting to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. If you are with a group, gather everyone together if possible and move as a group. Dan Stark, the DNR’s large carnivore specialist, says Minnesota’s wolf range runs from Chisago County on the state’s eastern border, west to Morrison County, and up to the northwest corner of the state. The center has something of interest for all ages. The organization told CBS Minnesota the lone wolf could be looking to return to its pack, and the animals have been known to occasionally venture into central Minnesota. Minnesota is one of them. Wolf packs haven’t established in southern Minnesota, Stark says, because of conflicts such as human population, and road density. “He’s just got to find a way to get around this fence,” Netter replied. “It sees you; it doesn’t know what to do,” Netter’s wife said on camera. Minnesota’s wolf population has grown in recent years. Last week, after a story about the wolf was published, there were numerous comments on the Echo Press Facebook page about wolf sightings in that area, as well as in other parts of the county. If you live in northern Minnesota, the Center offers a wolf helpline service to residents near Ely, Tower and Babbitt to assist with problem wolf issues. Unconfirmed wolf sightings began being documented better in 2012 as shown in the table above. But Netter said he’s never seen a wolf in that area before. By 1838, wolves were eliminated from the southern portion of Michigan, by the early 1900s they were eliminated from southern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and by 1960, wolves were also gone from northern Wisconsin and Michigan (except Isle Royale), and from most of Minnesota. Wolf observations, including sightings, photos of animals or tracks, and location, can be reported online through the wolf reporting portal. Table 1 . “They [wolves] need to be managed,” one Facebook user suggested. Common causes Wise and careful management under the Endangered Species Act allowed those remaining wolves to flourish and repopulate northern Wisconsin and Michigan's upper peninsula. International Wolf Center. Residents of West St. Paul are keeping watch after multiple sightings of a wolf in the rural municipality north of Winnipeg. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Last but certainly not least in recent animal sightings is the gray wolf, which is known for living in states like Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming, but never SoDak! “It ran right in front of me!” Koplin said of tracking the wolf as she waited for the DNR. In 2014, it was estimated that there were about 2,423 wolves in the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Making this story and sighting all the more memorable is that the animal was shot by a hunter, who then posted the encounter online. “It was just shocking. Look at this fascinating visualization tracking six wolf packs as they traverse Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park, staying out of one another's way in the process: Voyageurs Wolf Project. February 9, 2017 / 3:17 PM A lone wolf was spotted north of Olivia Wednesday, catching the attention of local residents and conservation officials. © 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Slowly, the wolf moved toward the road. Check back soon for more info. Way too big. Concerned livestock and pet owners should keep pets on a leash and remember not to leave food accessible to any wildlife. SPALDING — A gray wolf was shot near Spalding in the state's first confirmed wolf sighting in 90 years, state wildlife officials said Wednesday. In an Oct. 4 Echo Press article, “Are wolves in the area?” some hunters within Douglas and Otter Tail counties have talked about an increase in wolf sightings for a few years. While sitting safely in the car, the couple took a video of the frustrated wolf running in circles around a fenced-in yard. Gray wolves once roamed freely across much of the United States, but due to over-hunting, deforestation and other reasons, the country's wild wolf population has dwindled to a fraction of its former size. Tyler Netter and his wife were taking a leisurely drive Sunday morning through Rice, Minnesota when they both spotted a furry creature pacing back and forth along the side of a road. Justin Bailey and two young boys were hunting grouse in Minnesota’s arrowhead, near Isabela, when his dog ran square into a wolf pack. Enjoy the world famous International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota on the day of your arrival at River Point. Toward the end of the nearly two-minute video the wolf appeared to be on its way home. Stark says when wolves reach maturity or breeding age, they’ll disperse, leaving their natal pack in search of a mate. The Minnesota Historical Society and Hennepin County Library will be hosting archives of CityPages.com. / CBS News. Original: Dec 10, 2012. “He wasn’t wasting any time,” she said. “[Hatch]” called me and said, ‘you wanna see a wolf?’,” Koplin told SMN. So, how does the Department ... Wolf sightings can occur outside of this range. “It’s a lone wolf, more desperate without a pack,” another said. Wolves were killed in Minnesota mostly by poisoning. MORE NEWS: Three CVS Locations, Goodrich Pharmacy To Start Administering Vaccine Minnesota’s wolf population has grown in recent years. Today, wolf DNA has popped up in "coyote" poop as far south as Virginia. The DNR believes the animal is probably a dispersed male, well out of its range. Harvest of wolves in Minnesota by county during the 2012 wolf season. 234. Prior to European settlement, wolves were a part of the southern Minnesota landscape as well. Hatch said the wolf covered a mile stretch as the trio tracked it, crossing the road, and making it halfway through another field within ten minutes. Out in the middle of the day. They pulled over to take a closer look, and quickly realized it was a gray wolf. Beaver, Hatch said, got a look at the animal through binoculars and determined it was a young wolf. Wolf management Minnesota's wolf legacy is unique: its northeastern corner of lakes and sub-boreal forest once sheltered the last remaining wild wolves in the lower 48 states. 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That's near the upper weight range for adult males, the DNR says. If you see a wolf: Do Not Run. The Netters shared their video on Facebook, which made its way onto the Minnesota Hunting Club’s Facebook page, garnering more than 110,000 views. Wolf spotted in Renville County, courtesy of Karla Koplin. He said he receives a handful of calls reporting wolf sightings each year. The DNR recorded just one cougar sighting in 2004, then two in 2007 and six in 2010. MN Wolf Helpline: 763-560-7374 ext. Bruce Hanstad, a longtime trapper, caught a 95-pound Timberwolf that is 5.5 feet long – the biggest he has ever seen, the Wadena Pioneer Journal reports. One of the most elusive animals out there.”. If the wolf sees you, stand your ground, look as large as p… Depredations can be reported by phone at 877-933-9847. Gray wolves once existed throughout Minnesota; however, extirpation (elimination) began shortly after European settlers arrived. Wolves are slowly getting closer and closer to the Twin Cities. At that time, the wolf population numbered approximately 750 animals. Koplin then called a friend at the DNR, who told her he had never seen a wolf in the area and was on the way to meet her. The number of wolves in northeast Minnesota jumped 25 percent in the past year, most likely because deer, their favorite prey, saw a similar increase … Thanks for letting us post this! Under state management guidelines, wolves can only be killed under certain circumstances to protect livestock and pets. The hybrid, or Canis latrans var. Sometimes the canines are found deceased, or they might be spotted in pictures captured on a trail camera. It turns out the Voyageurs Wolf Project tracks all sort of interesting data and information about wolves. Passed by the Montana legislature in 2013, SB 200 both established a wolf hunting season and made it legal for a landowner to kill a wolf at any time when the wolf … The USFWS determined through DNA testing that the wolf originated from a population of wolves found in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. Minnesota wolf population estimates and trends from 1,235 wolves in 1979 to 2,699 in 2019. First published on February 9, 2017 / 3:17 PM. But that didn’t stop the Minnesota man from continuing his mission to help the wolf find his way back into the woods. https://www.southernminnesotanews.com/watch-lone-wolf-sighting-near-olivia A state-directed wolf livestock-depredation control program persisted until gray wolves were protected in 1974 by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Towner said the state rarely sees gray wolves, which also can be black, white or tan in color. Netter blocked its path with his car so the animal wouldn’t reach the highway. No trip to the North Country and the Boundary Waters is complete without a tour of this important wolf educational center. So why might a wolf be in Renville County? The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources confirmed the rare sighting was likely a wolf. First … The accident that killed the wolf occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 9 east of Rose City on Douglas County Road 14 near Hemlock Road. The DNR says seeing wolves anywhere in the state is rare, but they have been known to occasionally venture into central Minnesota, and even the southern part of the state. DNR officials tell SMN the track documented by the conservation officer measured approximately four inches long. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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A wolf is not likely to attack a person unless it feels trapped, provoked or if you appear to be prey (which is why you should not run). The determination was based on the animal’s body, its muzzle, the coloring, and the shape of its ears. Year Confirmed Wolf Sightings Unconfirmed Wolf Sightings 2012 0 2 2013 0 1 2014 2 4 Total 2 7 A few unconfirmed wolves were reported for the years (1938 – 2012). The other attack happened to a rabbit hunter a decade later. MaryDawn Hatch lives about two miles north of Olivia. Citizens are encouraged to call the Minnesota Wolf Helpline below to report their sightings of wolves in central or southern Minnesota, or to learn how to get assistance if you’ve encountered a problem. A lone wolf was spotted north of Olivia Wednesday, catching the attention of local residents and conservation officials. The animal was traveling straight east, so Hatch called her friend, animal enthusiast, and Renville County Deputy Karla Koplin. Mar 8, 2018. They could be looking for an area not currently occupied by another wolf pack, according to Stark. The couple wanted to confirm that it was actually a wolf they’d seen, so they called “Beaver,” a cousin and avid outdoorsman. “I initially knew it wasn’t a coyote. Minnesota is the only state in the contiguous United States that has always held a viable gray wolf popu… Wolves were removed from the federal endangered species list in Oct 2020. Make noise to ensure that the wolf is aware of your presence. A recent wolf population study conducted by the Minnesota DNR saw a 25 percent increase in the population from the prior year. In 2014, it was estimated that there were about 2,423 wolves in the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources confirmed the rare sighting was likely a wolf. But the number of cougar sightings in Minnesota has also shown a slight upward trend. MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Just one day after a Department of Natural Resources annual survey revealed a big surge in the state’s wolf population, a Keewatin hunter came face to face with the startling proof. In 1988-89, Minnesota's wolf population had risen to an estimated 1,500 wolves, and the 1998-99 survey tallied an estimated wolf population of 2,445 wolves. It is not unusual for wolves to wander from the forests of northern Minnesota. © 2021 Alpha Media LLC.All Rights Reserved. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is updating the state’s wolf management plan and has looked to the public for input.. To that end, the agency has selected members for a wolf plan advisory committee to help inform the update to the management plan. One incident involved a logger in the 1970s. Not sure if it was a different type of dog, a husky or a shepherd of some sort,” Netter told CBS Minnesota. Part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ mission is to … She searched for the wolf, seeing it in the distance away a short time later. Today, there are few places in the U.S. where gray wolves still flourish. Wisconsin protected the wolf in 1957, after the species was extirpated. In Minnesota, two previous wolf attacks did not result in injury, The Star Tribune reports. Public reports of wolf sightings in Iowa by year ( 2012 ± 201 4 ). Inside the prosecution of the Capitol rioters, Learning what it takes to bring students back to school, Race in the Ranks: Investigating racial bias in the U.S. military, Biden administration pressed to allow media to border facilities, Illinois becomes first No. This one was filmed today in Rice, MN by Tyler Netter. She said her husband initially spotted the wolf in the field behind their barn around noon. County, courtesy of Karla Koplin DNR believes the animal ’ s got. 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