The repopulation of wolves in Midwestern United States has occurred naturally as the gray wolf has expanded its territory after being nearly extirpated from the conterminous United States. The Midwestern United States of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are estimated to have 4,400 wolves. The inhabited western Great Lakes region included the forested areas of these states, along with the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. In 1974, wolves were protected under the federal Endangered Species Act as it was determined that they were in danger of going extinct and needed protection to aid their recovery. Management under the Act allowed those remaining wolves to flourish and repopulate northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Wolves were removed from federal protection