Wolves are quietly making Wisconsin roads safer for drivers

Wolves are quietly making Wisconsin roads safer for drivers
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/wolves-are-quietly-making-wisconsin-roads-safer-for-drivers/ar-AA1TKDUp?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=9a737ba71c9644dda2f8aa58222b895e&ei=12

Story by Lianna Tedesco • 22h •


Gray wolves are currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in most of the lower 48 states, except for the Northern Rocky Mountain population. In December 2025, the U.S. House passed a bill to remove these protections, but as of January 2026, gray wolves remain federally protected until any new law is enacted. Fewer than 20,000 gray wolves currently live in the U.S. Given these numbers, it’s hard to believe wolf populations are actually saving lives when their own still hang in the balance........................


Gray Wolves Could Be a Crucial Turning Point

Raynor’s data now also serves as a middle ground, showing that maintaining a healthy, native wolf population can be more beneficial. Knowing that wolves may help save the lives of Wisconsin drivers makes a substantial difference. Raynor’s goal is for natural resource managers to make informed and sustainable decisions, many of which may affect the safety of the state’s roadways.
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White-tailed deer are the primary prey for gray wolves. Thankfully, Wisconsin has a healthy deer population, which means wolves and coyotes are not competing for food. Gray wolves also follow very linear patterns when moving into new territory and hunting. This causes them to follow straight paths such as railroad tracks, highways, pipelines, and waterways. As they hunt through these corridors, the deer population thins.

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Gray wolves are considered elegant predators and highly social animals that form tight nuclear packs. ©iStock.com/slowmotiongli




That is, until the deer begin changing their patterns. As this happens, white-tailed deer also move out of colonized gray wolf territory. By doing so, they avoid claimed areas, such as highways and roads, where wolves actively hunt. This “landscape of fear” is responsible for fewer deer crossing roadways, thereby reducing vehicle collisions.................................

Wolves are quietly making Wisconsin roads safer for drivers

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— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-01-08T14:22:41.834Z