Grey wolves from bordering states of Minnesota and Wisconsin moved into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during the late 1980s. The Michigan DNR surveyed and confirmed three wolves in the state in 1989. Since that time in the past thirty years, the grey wolf has been established in every one of its fifteen counties in the Upper Peninsula. The estimated population is approximately 700 adult animals. Their diet consists of ungulates and other small birds and animals they find while hunting.
Size differences between grey wolves and coyotes are as follows:
- Upper Peninsula grey wolves are approximately three times as large as coyotes
- Grey wolves are about 6′ long from nose to the end of the tail while coyotes are about 3′
- Likewise, grey wolves stand about 33″ at the shoulder while coyotes are approximately 17″
- Grey wolves’ tracks are about 4″ wide and 5″ long while coyotes are approximately 1.5″ wide and 2.5″ long
On April 3rd, 2022, in Marquette, Michigan a man was training two dogs when one of the dogs was bitten in the hind leg. The dogs were baying a rabbit when the event occurred. More than likely the barking attracted the wolf to the area. Grey wolves are known to protect their territory and the wolf was probably protecting its core area. The dog is expected to recover from its wounds. The wolf population in the Upper Peninsula is expected to grow. Likewise, their range will continue to expand.
You can read more about this grey wolf attack by clicking here. Likewise, you can read more about grey wolf news by checking out our wolf section on the website. This section can be found by clicking here.
