Abstract
In 2007, the USA removed (delisted) the grey wolf ( Canis lupus ) in the upper Midwest from the Endangered Species List. After 35 years of being considered endangered, these wolves had increased from 750 in 38 400 km2 of Minnesota ([Fuller et al . 1992][1]) to over 4100 inhabiting 110 000
Highlights
In 2007, the USA removed the grey wolf (Canis lupus) in the upper Midwest from the Endangered Species List
After 35 years of being considered endangered, these wolves had increased from 750 in 38 400 km2 of Minnesota (Fuller et al 1992) to over 4100 inhabiting 110 000 km2 of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Conservationists celebrated this event as a most significant success. This milestone was challenged by Leonard & Wayne (2007) based on preliminary genetic findings that wolves of the upper Midwest 100 years ago were different from 69 per cent of the current population
Comparing them with 68 late-1980s specimens from across northern Minnesota, they concluded that the haplotypes of the old specimens were found in only 31 per cent of the recent specimens. Assuming that their current sample was representative of the 4100 recovered wolves, these authors concluded that the current population should not be considered recovered and should not have been delisted
Summary
In 2007, the USA removed (delisted) the grey wolf (Canis lupus) in the upper Midwest from the Endangered Species List. After 35 years of being considered endangered, these wolves had increased from 750 in 38 400 km2 of Minnesota (Fuller et al 1992) to over 4100 inhabiting 110 000 km2 of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This milestone was challenged by Leonard & Wayne (2007) based on preliminary genetic findings that wolves of the upper Midwest 100 years ago were different from 69 per cent of the current population.
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