Michigan records confirm extremely few wolf livestock conflicts in 2019
From The Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton, Michigan:
EWEN — Official records show that in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, only six out of approximately 900 livestock operations, or about 0.006%, experienced a conflict with wolves in 2019. The number of farms experiencing a conflict has been consistent over the past five years. Records also confirmed that very few of the U.P.’s wolf packs are involved with livestock conflicts.
The National Wolfwatcher Coalition analyzed data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act from wolf depredation and loss compensation records maintained by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The records indicated that of the nearly 50,000 head of cattle in the U.P. wolves were responsible for the death of five calves. In addition, two ducks and 10 free-ranging chickens were killed. Two farms reported a problem so far in 2020, each losing one calf.
