Citizen Sightings

The wolves were seen by many citizens early after their release (Table 5 and 6), no doubt because of the wolves' confusion, their extensive movements, and their lack of familiarity with the region. They often traveled near populated areas and probably moved more during the day than they would have in their native territory. They were known to have made 14 daytime moves (from citizen reports) in addition to those observed from the aircraft. In at least five of the citizen reports, the wolves were observed sitting alongside the road, or otherwise making little attempt to move away immediately. However, after April 13 the group of three wolves was reported by citizens only twice, and Wolf No. 10, three times.

Table 5. Significant events in history of Wolf No. 10

DateEvent
March 12Wolves released in Huron Mountain area (T52N-R28W-Sec 20)
March 13No. 10 separated from the other three wolves and never reunited
March 15Sighted from tracking car crossing County Road 492 south of Marquette County Airport, 6:35 p.m. (EDT) (T47N-R26W-Sec 33)
March 15Crossed a four-lane highway between Marquette and Negaunee about 4:00 p.m. (EDT) (T49N-R26W-Sec 29)
March 24Located from the air less than 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from release pen (T52N-R28W-Sec 20)
March 27Reported seen by Huron Mountain Club guard on edge of First Pine Lake, 6:30 p.m. (EDT) (T52N-R28W-Sec 29)
April 18Visited bear carcass 100 feet (30.5 m) from release pen, had also visited 3 nearby deer carcasses (T52N-R28N-Sec 20)
April 18Confirmed deer kill by No. 10 near Pine Lake, Huron Mountain Club (T52N-R28W-Sec 20)
June 6Reported seen by gate guard, Huron Mountain Club (T51N-R27W-Sec 6)
June 3Reported seen north of Saux Head Lake on Lake Superior beach (T50N-R26W-Sec 17)
June 20 Reported seen crossing four-lane highway headed north about 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Marquette (T50N-R26W-Sec 24)
May 22
May 23
June 5
July 15
July 20
July 31
Aug. 6
Aug. 13
Located near Big Bay dump, probably scavenging. Bears are baited at the dump by local citizens and tourists (T51N-R27W-Sec 16)
Aug. 16Back in Huron Mountain area between Conway and Ives Lakes. 5:35 p.m. (EDT) (T52N-R28W-Sec 35)
Aug. 27Returned to Big Bay dump, 11:10 a.m. (EDT) (T51N-R27W-Sec 16)
Aug. 30Huron Mountain area, 8:45 a.m. (EDT) (T49N-R28W-Sec 9)
Sept. 2Left Huron Mountain area for last time. Located on Yellow Dog Plains, 8:45 a.m. (EDT) (T50N-R28W-Sec 13)
Sept. 5Near Silver Lake, 8:45 a.m. (EDT). Begins rambling move westward out of established range (T49N-R28W-Sec 17)
Sept. 15Tracked on ground on Mulligan Plains, 4:45 p.m. (EDT) (T49N-R28W-Sec 9)
Oct. 22Farthest west, 22 miles (35.4 km) west of Silver Lake. Begins rambling return east.
Nov. 16Killed ½ mile (0.8 km) south of Van Riper Lake, 5.4 miles (8.4 km) north of Champion (T49N-R30W-Sec 36)

Table 6. Significant events in history of Wolves No. 11, 12 and 13

DateEvent
March 12Wolves released in Huron Mountain area (T52N-R28W-Sec 20)
March 18Two wolves reported seen near Ravine River, Skanee area, the smaller one limping (T51N-R31W-Sec 2)
March 19First aerial fix of the three wolves in the same location (T52N-R31W-Sec 36)
March 20Wolves reported howling about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Arvon Tower, 10 miles (16 km) south of Skanee (T50N-R31W-Sec 4)
March 22Wolves dug up five discarded doe and fawn heads and 27 deer legs near Laws Lake (T50N-R32W-Sec 18)
March 22Wolves reported crossing highway north of Herman, 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of L'Anse, 8:30 a.m. (EDT) (T50N-R33W)
March 25Wolves reported in Pelkie area 6 miles (9.6 km) east of Baraga by DNR officer, 8:30 a.m. (EDT) (T51N-R34W-Sec 27SW)
March 25Wolves crossed road 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Pelkie near Otter River 11:00 a.m. (EDT) 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Otter Lake (T51N-R34W-Sec 5)
March 25Wolves reported seen crossing Highway M26, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Twin Lakes 7:30 a.m. (EDT) (T52N-R38W-Sec 12)
March 26Wolves reported seen by logger during most of morning 9:00–11:00 a.m. (EDT), 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Houghton, (T54N-R35W-Sec 14)
March 26Wolves crossed Highway M26 south of Atlantic, 4:30 p.m. (EDT), (T54N-R34W-Sec 16)
March 26Wolves sighted from aircraft, eating garbage from cutting crew, 4:20 p.m. (EDT) (T54N-R34W-Sec 9NE)
March 29Wolves reported being chased away from house by dog, had been feeding on discarded cow head 150 feet (45.7 m) from house near Otter Lake (T52N-R33W-Sec 5)
March 31Wolves sighted in Otter Lake area (T52N-R33W-Sec 5)
April 2First confirmed wolf-killed deer, Arnheim area about 10 miles (16 km) north of Baraga (T52N-R33W-Sec 11)
April 5Wolves reported seen at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on county road 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Otter Lake, small wolf reported as appearing fat (T53N-R35W-Sec 36)
April 8Wolves dug up old deer carcass about 150 feet (45.7 m) from house near Nisula (T50N-R36W-Sec 4)
April 10Wolves reported seen by logger in Nisula area (T50N-R36W-Sec 5)
April 13One wolf sighted crossing Highway M28 in morning between Kenton and Sidnaw
April 15Wolves killed deer near Kenton (T47N-R36W-Sec 8)
April 18Observed the three wolves from the tracking aircraft swim the East Branch of Ontonagon River, southeast of Kenton (T47N-R37W-Sec 7)
May 2No. 13 split from other two wolves; found in northwest Ontonagon County (T51N-R32W-Sec 21)
May 7All wolves back in Iron County for the second time, not known to leave until July 15
May 7Forest service crew reported seeing the wolves and tracking aircraft north of Gibbs City near old deer carcass (T45N-R35W-Sec 26)
May 15Loggers reported six wolves (one with collar) (T54N-R37W-Sec 33)—Probably saw the collared wolves twice
May 16Confirmation from aerial location that the three wolves had reunited south of Mallard Lake after May 2 split
June 19No. 13 again separated from No. 11 and 12
July 11Wolf No. 12 found dead, killed by automobile just before July 6, north of Amasa (T45N-R33W-Sec 17)
July 15Wolf No. 11 moved out of Iron County for the first time since May 7, found north of Kenton (T49N-R38W-Sec 31)
July 20Wolf No. 13 found dead from gunshot, south of Sagola, last previous location (June 27) at same location where No. 12 killed by automobile (T52N-R30W-Sec 5)
Aug. 6Wolf No. 11 located near Wisconsin border, ¾ miles (1.2 km) east of Lac Vieux Desert, 10:15 a.m. (EDT) (T43N-R38W-Sec 9)
Aug. 13Wolf No. 11 located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southeast of Ewen 25 miles (40.5 km) north of Lac Vieux Desert, 10:10 a.m. (EDT) (T46N-R40W-Sec 36)
Aug. 28No locations since Aug. 13. Wolf No. 11 back in Marquette County .25 miles (0.4 km) south of Squaw Lake, a 60-mile (96.5 km) move eastward (T45N-R30W-Sec 21)
Sept. 20No. 11 trapped and shot on Floodwood Plaine 3.1 miles (5.0 km) south of Witch Lake (T44N-R24W-Sec 11)

Habitat Use

The relative percentages of various habitats in which the translocated wolves were found during aerial locations (Table 7) did not indicate a preference for any particular habitat type. Evidently the animals chose their travel routes and ranges on some basis other than forest habitat, or at least habitat was not of any overriding importance in their movements.