MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The spring weather melting the snow is beginning to bring more deer into town. As a result, this can encourage predators like wolves and coyotes to start populating around town again as well.
In Ishpeming Township, the community has been reporting more dead deer in the surrounding area, and wondering if wolves are a concern. Surveys and investigations conducted by the DNR, show little signs of wolf activity. “The evidence we reviewed, everything pointed to coyotes,” said Wildlife Biologist Brian Roell.
“These animals really the deer have just been very vulnerable because of the snow conditions that we’ve had in the past couple of weeks but the evidence that we’ve looked at in that area has been coyotes causing most of the problems, it’s been predators killing whitetail deer and that’s what they do,” said continued Roell.
Officials do want to remind the community that as you might see wolves in any part of the UP, feeding their prey can interest the pack enough to begin migrating towards town or wherever they can find deer more easily.
“So really what’s the biggest cause there, is the amount of deer feeding that’s going on. So you’re bringing the deer into town and of course, when you do that you also have the bonus of attracting predators that may feed on deer,” continued Roell.
For more information on wildlife in the Upper Peninsula, click here or call (906) 228-6561.
