 Wolf at Voyageurs National Park, courtesy of the National Park Service
MOSSS Questions & Answers
Wolves in Minnesota and Winter Deer Behavior
Thank you for attending our Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webinars on "Wolves in Minnesota" or "Winter Deer Behavior."
Due to an exceptional number of submitted questions, our experts were unable to answer the majority due to time constraints at the live viewings. We greatly appreciated your engagement, and have pulled some of the most frequently asked questions from these webinar Q&As. Here are responses to your questions below!
Wolf Ecology & Research
What is the average survival rate of a pack’s pups?
Pup mortality rates are highly variable, but approximately 40-60% of wolf pups die each year.
What are the primary causes of death for wolves in Minnesota?
Natural causes of death include starvation (kills mostly pups), territory fights with other wolves, diseases (mange, canine parvovirus, distemper), and injuries caused by prey. Lyme disease can infect wolves, and heartworm can reduce a wolf’s endurance by restricting blood flow to the lungs.
Wolves also die annually from humans. Some wolves are killed through legal lethal control where conflicts with livestock occur (see Wolf Depredation Compensation), vehicle collisions, and poaching.
Information on known wolf mortalities is available on our website.
How many wolves are collared by the DNR? Is there a map that shows where different packs live?
The DNR collars 10-15 wolves each year, combined with other researchers and agencies conducting wolf monitoring, Minnesota has about 40-50 collared wolves on the landscape each year. There is a map of the territories of wolf packs collared for population estimates in the DNR wolf survey report (see Background).
Does the DNR collaborate with other partners on their wolf research (Voyageurs Wolf Project, International Wolf Center, etc.)
Yes, the DNR has collaborated with many partners conducting wolf research and monitoring including the tribal natural resource agencies in Minnesota, U.S. Geological Survey, Voyageurs Wolf Project, and others conducting shorter-term projects.
Wolf & Deer Management
Do you have data that shows the deer population and wolf population by year?
One of the challenges of wildlife management is it’s impossible to get an exact number of individuals on the landscape. These are free-roaming wild animals that do not recognize human boundaries – such as county, state, or even country lines. Therefore, the best biologists can do is obtain estimates of population through a variety of methods depending on the species. While population estimates do not directly explain reasons for population change at a given time, they do provide crucial data for documenting and understanding population changes over time.
For wolves, biologists conduct annual estimates during winter months, when wolf populations are most stable and visible due to snow and bare trees. Biologists obtain these estimates in cooperation with partners by live-trapping wolves to fit with tracking collars, which allows us to collect information on wolf pack size and territory size. This data, combined with information gathered from periodic surveys, such as carnivore scent stations and winter track surveys, has reliably tracked Minnesota's estimated wolf population since the late 1970s. More information on population surveys in available under the Background tab here: mndnr.gov/wolves/index.html
For deer, we assess population trends based on harvest data, winter severity, population modelling, public input via post-season questionnaires and periodic randomized mail surveys, and insights from local area staff. Staff provide observations on deer habitat quality, public input, and other observations from the field. While the population model we use is a good indicator of deer population trends, it may not offer precise numbers or density estimates. Harvest success rates and buck harvest versus total harvest also tend to reflect deer population trends. Harvest data and population modeling reports are available online.
Is there a target number for Minnesota’s wolf population?
Yes, as outlined in Minnesota’s wolf management plan (available online: mndnr.gov/wolfplan), the DNR aims to maintain a population between 2200 – 3000 wolves.
If the population estimate exceeds 3000 over multiple, consecutive years and public concerns about negative impacts attributable to wolves increase, the DNR will provide an opportunity for public input on wolf management to determine next steps.
How many wolves do you believe are poached annually?
The DNR does not have an exact number of how many wolves are killed illegally. While there’s no question some wolves are killed each year illegally, the success rate of wolf hunters was less than 5% on average during the legal wolf seasons Minnesota had between 2012-2014.
If you know of someone who has shot a wolf illegally in Minnesota, you can make a report (including anonymously) through the Turn in Poachers (TIP) hotline: 800-652-9093.
If we have the largest wolf population in the lower 48, why are we not allowed to hunt or trap wolves like Montana and Idaho?
We certainly understand how there’s a lot of confusion around wolf hunting/trapping seasons. Only three western states and Alaska have open seasons. Legal wolf hunting and trapping has occurred in Alaska for years, but wolves were never listed as threatened or endangered there. Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have wolf seasons, but wolves are not listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) as a result of a different federal action than what has occurred in Minnesota.
The federal government has attempted to transfer the management authority for the wolf to states and tribes in Minnesota four times. All of these delisting decisions have been reversed by the courts.
Are white-tailed deer native to northern Minnesota?
White-tailed deer are native to northern Minnesota, but prior to European settlement, they existed in low numbers in north-central Minnesota. Early reports from explorers and fur trade companies in the late 1700s and early 1800s suggest deer were scarce at best in the areas near Lake Superior and the northern border. The climate and habitat were different prior to European settlement. As caribou, moose, elk, and bison were overhunted and the habitat was changed by settlers, white-tailed deer moved in.
Will there be any measures put in place to increase the deer populations?
In short, the answer depends on which deer permit area you hunt. The DNR sets deer population goals – how much of an increase or decrease is desired in a deer population within a particular deer permit area – as part of managing the state’s wild deer. From 2020-2023, the DNR gathered public input annually for different blocks of deer permit areas statewide. The results of that public input and subsequent bag limit impacts are available here: mndnr.gov/mammals/deer/management/deer-goals-history.html. During the 2023 season, bag limits were lowered in 38 deer permit areas, all of which were in northern Minnesota. Reductions in the number of deer a hunter may take, especially reductions in antlerless deer harvest, are our primary way to control deer mortality and influence deer populations.
Additionally, the DNR manages more than 1500 wildlife management areas (WMAs), encompassing 1.4 million acres of public land. DNR staff work tirelessly to improve wildlife habitat on these public lands to the benefit of both wildlife and people. For example, in the northeast, the DNR has planted over 63,000 conifer and oak trees across multiple sites through the Conservation Partners Legacy Grant program, with help from North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District. These trees are critical for creating snow shelters and travel corridors for deer in their wintering areas along the St. Louis River. We also work to inform partners and other land managers about wildlife habitat priorities and needs.
Living with Wolves
How can we keep wolves away from property, pets, and livestock?
There are a variety of preventative methods available to protect property, pets and livestock, but no single solution that will eliminate all wolf-human conflict. These include:
- Barriers that prevent wolves from crossing into pastures and yards, such as fencing
- Ensuring regular human activity occurs in the area (wolves avoid people).
- Guard animals, such as livestock guarding dogs and donkeys.
- Husbandry practices, such as proper carcass disposal to reduce attractants, birthing pastures in areas that can be closely monitored and have adequate fencing, and maintaining healthy animals.
- Using deterrents such as electric fencing, flashing lights, or fladry.
- Keeping pets under close visual and verbal control, on a leash, kenneled, or supervised while enjoying time outdoors.
 Photo courtesy of Joe Walewski, iNaturalist
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