Intensive eradication efforts and declining numbers of prey, bison, elk, and white-tailed deer in the south; moose, deer, caribou, and beaver in the north, caused the wolf declines in the western great lakes area. bounties paid for dead wolves began during the 1800's. by 1838, wolves were eliminated from the southern portion of michigan, by the early 1900's they were eliminated from southern minnesota and wisconsin, and by 1960, wolves were also gone from northern wisconsin and michigan, except isle royale, and from most of minnesota. over the last 50+ years, efforts have been made to recover the wolf populations mentioned here. as seen in the data table, those efforts appear to be working.