An Overview of the Legal History and Population Status of Wolves in Minnesota

Abstract

The modern history of wolf populations in Minnesota, like other areas, is as much a story about humans as it is about wolves. While competition among wolves is in large part driven by the availability of resources such as food and space (Fuller et al. 2003 ; Packard 2003) , wolf–human interactions are a function of real “competition” as well as perceived conflict or fear. Cultural attitudes have clearly played a major role in the dynamics between wolves and humans (Boitani 1995 ; Fritts et al. 2003) . Such human–wolf dynamics are not constant. Cultural attitudes change, the number of people (and livestock) living in close proximity to wolves changes, and the availability and degree of dependence on shared resources changes. Our goal is to examine the legal and population history of wolves in Minnesota, but in so doing we provide a manifestation of human–wolf dynamics, and provide context for understanding the changes in these dynamics through time. We summarize changes in the legal status of wolves and changes in wolf distribution and abundance. We also highlight ecological factors associated with a changing wolf population, and provide an overview of the methods used by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to monitor the statewide wolf population.