According to the latest Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) survey, wolf packs are larger this year, but there are fewer of them and fewer wolves in the state now than there were last year.
DNR estimates place 2,221 wolves in the state, down about 200 from the 2014 count but nearly identical to the 2013 tally.
Pack sizes grew from 4.4 wolves in 2014 to 5.1 wolves in 2015, and expanded their territory from 58 square miles to 73 miles as they sought a dwindling deer herd for food.
In 2012, wolves in the Great Lakes area were removed as a listed species under the federal Endangered Species Act. Following that delisting Minnesota offered wolf hunting/trapping seasons in 2012, 2013 and 2014, but last December a federal judge placed the Great Lakes wolves back into the endangered species protection program.
Wolf numbers peaked in 2004 when the DNR estimated there were 3,000 in the state. Still, DNR wolf researcher John Erb said the current population is stable, and should grow if the deer population grows.
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