CHEBOYGAN — Federal and state wildlife officials found evidence of a breeding wolf population when they captured a male pup in Cheboygan County.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment trapped the wolf pup early last week while attempting to capture an adult wolf. Plans were to place a radio collar on an adult wolf to help study a recently confirmed wolf pack roaming northern Lower Michigan.
The pup confirms the pack is a breeding population and there is potential for population growth among the predator, said Jennifer Kleitch, DNRE wildlife biologist. It's the first proof of natural wolf breeding in the Lower Peninsula since wolves were hunted to extinction here in the early 1900s.
Officials placed an ear tag on the healthy, 23-pound pup and released it back into the wild. Trapping efforts continue for an adult wolf.
Lower Peninsula wolf sightings can be submitted online at www.michigandnr.com/wildlife/pubs/wolf_obsreport.asp.
