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Great Lakes Wolf Management Issue Continues

The ability of Great Lakes states to resume management of wolf populations continues to be an issue.  Following in the footsteps of Minnesota, Wisconsin recently petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to remove the region’s wolves from Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection, allowing the state to resume management.

On April 27, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that it had submitted a petition to remove the wolves from the Endangered Species List.  The petition summary makes clear that the population has more than recovered and states',

“Protection of the Minnesota wolf population through the Endangered Species Act allowed it to spread and recover throughout most areas of suitable habitat across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan and there is no reason to believe that the population remains threatened or endangered. Placing wolves under state management allows more flexibility and improved public tolerance and acceptance of wolves.”

Previously on March 17, Minnesota’s DNR filed a petition to remove the wolves from ESA protection. 

“Wisconsin joins Minnesota in making the right decision to seek removal of the Great Lakes wolves from ESA protection as the population has clearly recovered,” said Rob Sexton, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) vice president for government affairs.  “The 6USSA supports these efforts and has long maintained that it is time for the states, not the federal government, to manage local wildlife resources.”

 The USSAF is part of the Wisconsin Hunters’ Rights Coalition and has worked with FWS for the past three years to remove the Western Great Lakes wolves from the list.  This includes involvement in legal cases that emerged from previous efforts to delist the wolves since 2007.

Other coalition members include the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, WI-Force (Wisconsin Firearms Owners, Ranges, Clubs and Educators), Wisconsin state chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International and the National Rifle Association.

As previously reported by the USSAF, Wisconsin and Michigan also applied to the FWS to obtain permits that will allow them to manage certain problem wolves.  The permits would allow for both lethal and non-lethal taking of wolves that are killing pets, hunting dogs and livestock.