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State Wolf Population Increases

pixabay.com

Wisconsin ended the winter with 16 percent more gray wolves than the same time last year.

The D-N-R reports a record high 866 to 897 wolves in more than 220 packs. That's up from last year's count of 746 to 771 animals.

Wisconsin has not been able to manage its own wolf herd since late 2014. That's when a federal judge ruled in favor of animal rights groups who wanted the wolves returned to federal endangered species' protections, mainly to stop the wolf hunts in Wisconsin and other states.

Farmers have not been able to kill wolves that hurt or maim their livestock or destroy crops. Observers say the problem has become worse since the last court decision. Other groups says the wolf population has not fully recovered from hunts and predation.

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