Protect Wisconsin's Wolves

Most recent update:

Protect Science-based Wolf Management

Members of the legislature are pushing a bill that would backtrack on one of the biggest gains in the updated Wolf Management Plan. The updated plan used a science-based approach to manage wolves, called adaptive management, which looks at the impact wolves are having on the ecosystem.

The bill being pushed would instead require that wolf management be based on an arbitrary number. This goes against the best available science and management practices.

Upcoming: 2026 Virtual Volunteer Fair

Tue, Jan 27, 2026; 6:00pm

Start the new year by learning how you can get involved and make a difference. There are countless ways to volunteer with the Sierra Club and we would love to help you find your fit and get started. We have in person, virtual, regular or occasional opportunities that fit all types of schedules. Join our virtual volunteer fair to learn more, ask questions and meet others who are also looking for ways to make a positive impact and protect the environment.

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Why it Matters

Wolves are incredibly important animals to our ecosystems and are important to the Ojibwe Tribe. No wolf hunt should occur until there is an inclusive, fair, and science-based planning process.

Apex predators like wolves are vital for maintaining balanced and robust ecosystems. Scientists and researchers continue discovering how wolves leave lasting and significant impressions on the landscapes. “As humans, we often like to think that we have the ability to mimic the ecological roles of predators, and therefore it may be okay to have some areas devoid of large predators,” said Sean Johnson-Bice, lead author of the study and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Manitoba. “However, our work shows that there is such a wide diversity of ways that individual predators affect ecosystems that we could never realistically replicate their effects across entire ecosystems.”

From ensuring that forests and wildlife populations remain healthy to keeping prey populations in check, the presence of wolves in Wisconsin’s forests enhances biodiversity. It plays a crucial role in ecosystem health.

Beyond their vital roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems and reducing vehicle collisions, wolves hold deep cultural significance for many of Wisconsin's people. The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission explains that wolves, known as "Ma'iingan," are revered as relatives by the Ojibwe. The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who hold wolves in exceptionally high regard, even designates wolves as a "Tribally Protected Species."

The bond between the Ojibwe people and wolves is rooted in their creation story, where the Creator chose Ma'iingan to be the companion of the Original Man. This sacred connection is so profound that the Ojibwe believe that what happens to wolves also happens to them -- that their fates are intricately intertwined.

Since February 10, 2022, the gray wolves in Wisconsin remain federally protected under the Endangered Species Act as a “listed” species. As a listed species, it is illegal to harm, harass, hunt, kill, trap wolves in Wisconsin without permit.

Should wolves in Wisconsin lose these federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, the management of wolves will return to the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin DNR Wolf management plan and WI laws will go into effect.

Learn More: https://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/issues/protecting-wisconsins-wolves