Wolves are no longer rare in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

During the 2006 wolf survey conducted by the Department of Natural Resources last winter, biologists estimated Michigan is home to more than 430 wolves.

After wolves began a natural recolonization of the U.P in the early 1990s, a Michigan Gray Wolf Recovery and Management Plan was developed. Since then, the wolf population has grown steadily.

"The Michigan wolf population has reached a level where it is no longer at risk of extinction and it is time to focus on wolf management rather than wolf recovery," said Todd Hogrefe, DNR endangered species coordinator. "With wolf-human interactions becoming more common, our management and education efforts must address both positive and negative experiences people can have with wolves."

The DNR currently is revising its gray wolf management plan. In the 10 years since that plan was finalized, wolf population size and distribution have expanded, and understanding of wolf biology has improved. The plan revision will allow the DNR to continue to conserve and manage wolves based on the best available scientific information.

The plan revision also is being conducted in anticipation of a change in federal status. Wolf populations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan have increased to the level where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed removing wolves in the western Great Lakes region from the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

(Note: The federal delisting decision was announced Jan. 29 and it will take effect 30 days after being published in the Federal Register.)

Public input is critical for formulating a successful plan. In May 2005, the DNR conducted 10 public meetings (six in the U.P. and four in the Lower Peninsula) to identify wolf management issues. An open public-comment period also provided opportunities for input from citizens who could not attend the public meetings. Based on the issues identified in the public's response, the DNR asked researchers at Michigan State University to conduct a large survey of citizen's attitudes toward wolves and wolf management. Nearly 10,000 Michigan citizens were contacted.

Public input and survey results suggested Michigan citizen's have a wide range of values, beliefs and attitudes toward wolves. A wolf management roundtable was created by DNR Wildlife Chief Bill Moritz to address a wide range of differences on how wolves should be managed. The roundtable contained representatives from 20 organizations and agencies, including stakeholder groups, tribes and the DNR.

The roundtable was charged with recommending guiding principles for management of wolves following federal delisting. The group was facilitated by Dr. R. Ben Peyton of Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University.

"The roundtable participants contributed a substantial amount of time and effort," Moritz said. "With Dr. Peyton facilitating these sessions, we had high expectations of the outcome. Ben did an incredible job, as did the participants."

The group held 10 meetings between June and November 2006.

In its report, the roundtable offers recommendations pertaining to wolf distribution and abundance, benefits of wolves, management of wolf-related conflicts, information and education, funding, research, hybrid and captive wolves, and future plan revisions.

"The group really didn't know what to expect when they gathered at the first meeting in Newberry," Peyton said. "Many of these organizations have different philosophies about wolf management. But the participants came together quite quickly to make recommendations that took all aspects of wolf management into consideration."

Peyton said the roundtable participants were highly committed to the process and in almost every instance the group came to consensus on its recommendations.

"Overall, I enjoyed working with these dedicated individuals, and I was pleased with the product the roundtable developed," he said.

In December, the final 18-page report of the Michigan Wolf Management Roundtable, entitled "Recommended Guiding Principles for Wolf Management in Michigan" was posted on the DNR Web site. All participating organizations are listed in the report.

A draft of the DNR's revised gray wolf management plan will be made available to the NRC, the public and agencies for review and comment this spring. The plan will be revised, approved and published following a 90-day comment period.