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Minnesota at a glance

Gray wolves once existed throughout Minnesota; however, extirpation (elimination) began shortly after European settlers arrived. Wolves were killed in Minnesota mostly by poisoning. A state-directed wolf livestock-depredation control program persisted until gray wolves were protected in 1974 by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. At that time, the wolf population numbered approximately 750 animals. Minnesota is the only state in the contiguous United States that has always held a viable gray wolf population.

Main prey for wolves there are deer, moose and beaver. Wolves occupy approximately 40 percent of the map shown, with most wolves occupying the northeastern portion of the state. Range lines are not depicted. According to federal recovery criteria, wolves in Minnesota have been biologically recovered for over a decade. They were delisted from the endangered species list in January 2012 but were re-listed on December 19, 2014. They are currently listed as “Threatened” in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is considering a revision to its wolf management plan. A group of volunteers is meeting with DNR staff to discuss changes to that plan. Read more about that process here.

Species Information

Species 1

Common Name: gray wolf

Latin Name: Canis lupus

Potential species designation under debate by the scientific community

Common Name: eastern wolf, timber wolf

Latin Name: Canis lycaon

Location: C. lupus and the potential C. lycaon are indistinguishable from each other physically, behaviorally and ecologically. The only way to tell the difference between them is a genetic test and comparison.

Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status

Number of wolves: 2,655 (+/- 700) (2018 Minnesota Wolf Survey)

Population trend: Stable

Legal status: Wolves in Minnesota are classified as threatened and are federally protected. On Dec. 19, 2014, a judge ordered wolves protected again in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan under the Endangered Species Act. No one may kill a wolf except in defense of human life. In Minnesota, farmers can contact federal agents for wolf control. Minnesota did have legal hunting seasons for wolves in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2012 hunters killed 413 wolves. In 2013 they killed 238 wolves. In 2014 they killed 272 wolves. Each year approximately 2,500 wolves are born in Minnesota.

Human Relationships

Attitudes and Issues

History

Recovery and Management

Information related to legal status, hunting and trapping regulations and management plans and practices in Minnesota.

Depredation

Ecology

Biology

Denning

Prey and Predation