The authors hypothesize that wolf depredations on domestic animals are inversely related to winter severity. White-tailed deer fawns are the primary summer prey for wolves in Minnesota. The vulnerability of fawns is at least partly a direct function of the previous winter's severity. Beavers, a secondary prey for wolves, is also effected by winter severity. Wolves likely resort to secondary prey when primary prey is less available, and domestic animals may constitute secondary prey. The winter severity index at International Falls and Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge for the years 1979 - 1986 was compared to the number of confirmed wolf complaints for each corresponding year. The results indicated support for their hypothesis that wolf depredation on domestic animals was inversely related to severity of the previous winter. They note that these results do not show cause and effect, other factors could explain these findings. However, this information could be used to help agencies anticipate the relative magnitude of wolf depredations in a given year.