Wolf management is a hot button issue in the northwest.

The link below is an article about wolf management in Sweden.

Wonder where there are other wolf issues on the continent?

http://www.thelocal.se/20151229/wolf-hunting-ban-agreed-for-parts-of-sweden

Wolves have decimated the moose population in Minnesota. Recent official numbers prove that the wolf is largely responsible for the dramatic decline in the moose population of NE Minnesota.

http://www.startribune.com/are-wolves-to-blame-for-fewer-minnesota-moose/281197051/.

Results from repeated studies in MN fly in the face of those trying to blame global warming for the precipitous drop in moose numbers in order to ban wolf hunting. Certainly disease plays a part, but a proven 50% to 80% moose calf mortality from wolf predation doesn't help matters any.

There are a record number of wolves (2,200+) and each eats 10 pounds of meat a day. They will eat dogs, cats, rabbits etc, but those are small and scarce in wolf country. They also go after livestock when they can, but farmers are permitted to control them in some circumstances or get reimbursement. Their primary prey is the whitetail deer and since there is probably 40 to 50 pounds of edible meat on an average whitetail, simple math reveals the carnage they inflict on the whitetail population and moose calves.

Add to that the statewide scourge of coyotes and coy-wolves, and not much with fur or feathers is spared.

Despite the very low population in Germany wolf management is an issue too. Wolves are a protected species and may be killed only in self defence. Especially non-hunters are not comfortable with wolves in their vicinity.
The impact on game animals is neglectable.
Administration is part of the issue. Theoretically owners of livestock are entitled to compensation when a wolf attacks their livestock. They often don´t get it as the autorities tend to claim attack by stray dogs.
Then there is the issue of people trying to feed the animals. That may backfire in the future.

This may be true and if so it would indicate that there were no significant predators for the moose and thus they were above the normal population for a balanced ecosystem.

Once the moose population declines to a certain level, the wolf population will also decline due to lack of food.

On the flip side, overpopulation of the moose will have a negative effect on their food source (in this case, specific plants). As their food source becomes scarce the moose population will begin to decline just as the wolves.

Isn't this the equilibrium that has existed on Isle Royale (Lake Superior) for several decades?

Here is a useful link discussing the wolf/moose relationship on Isle Royale - very interesting - it is a lot more complex that I realized. http://www.isleroyalewolf.org/overview/overview/at_a_glance.html

I spend two weeks on Isle Royale in the 1980's and saw exactly one moose....

I forgot to mention that the predators (wolves in this case) generally take out the sick and the weak prey, thus strengthening the prey's gene pool by leaving the stronger genes in the population.

Conversely, human hunters generally take the biggest and the best of the prey, thus weakening the gene pool.

The subject of wolves is fraught with very many political and polarizing point of views and arguments. To me, the wolf is in a no win situation and I will leave it at that.

Quite possibly, you may even understate the volatility of the emotional politics that surround wolves. However, Isle Royale presents an ideal laboratory situation - no hunting and minimal human presence (effectively none during the winter months and not that many during the rest of the year). From a cursory reading of the reference I cited, it would seem likely that both climate change and wolf predation, among other factors, could effect moose populations...

I am not a wildlife biologist not have I played one on TV....

A bit off topic, but just recently I've learned (actually, more like confirmed) a new skill from wolves. When the pack is moving "on a winter trail", seeking for a new place to hunt, it has a special formation. The weakest members of the tribe (Omegas, ill, too young) are walking in the very front, setting the speed, then there are 5 mature strong males walking ready for action, followed by the pack's main asset - 11 females, guarded by another 5 mature strong wolves, walking right after them, and finally, the alpha male, the leader, supervising the journey from the rear.