Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
WOLVES
WOLVES. A bounty system was established for coyotes and wolves in Iowa in 1817. This was an attempt to eliminate these "vermin." This system, however, had a debatable effect. Many settlers "farmed" wolves, killing or trapping only the young of the year, leaving the adults to reproduce and make next year’s income. One pelt (ears, lips, scalp) could be good for several bounties if presented in different ways in different counties.
Drastic habitat changes probably affected wolves the most. They were absent from the state by the 1910s.