Various landscape features were examined in 14 wolf territories that were monitored by the Wisconsin DNR using radio-collared wolves. These known territories were compared to 14 random areas the size of wolf territories scattered across northern Wisconsin. Wolf territories were also compared to the overall landscape of northern Wisconsin. Table C1 illustrates some of the important features of wolf habitat in Wisconsin. Although road density is an important indicator of good wolf habitat, wolves do not have an aversion to roads.
Wolves readily travel down roads for hunting and dispersing, especially dirt and gravel roads.
The reason road density is important to wolf habitat, is because higher road densities equate to higher risks of vehicle collisions or illegal kills. In recent years vehicle collisions have become almost as high a mortality factor as illegal killing in Wisconsin. Area of potential wolf habitat in northern Wisconsin are illustrated in Table C2 . About 12,393 square miles of northern Wisconsin appears to be poorly suited as wolf habitat, and most unsuitable habitat occurs on private land. Some of the areas of less suitable habitat may be occupied by wolf packs if these areas occur close to areas of suitable habitat.