Minnesota wolf population stable for third year

The number of wolves in Minnesota was stable for the third year in a row, state wildlife researchers said Monday in their latest survey of the animal’s population.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources estimates that there are 2,221 wolves in the northeast corner of the state; that’s down slightly from the 2,423 counted in the winter of 2013-14, but not a significant difference.

Wolf numbers fluctuate with the number of deer, their primary prey, and the severity of the winter, wildlife officials said. If deer numbers are up, then wolves fare better and their numbers rise. If the winters are mild with little snow, then deer can escape more easily, which hurts wolf numbers.

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-wolf-population-stable-for-third-year/321308461/