Of course there are always people who fear wolves and want them all gone, and there are people who believe wolves are God's creatures who should be left to their own devices. One extreme cites examples of vicious and aberrant wolf behavior and livestock predation, the other cites examples of wolf social activity and hunting that increases the viability of the hunted.
Michigan, meanwhile, through decades of protection of wolves as an endangered species, is now facing a legislative trend that not only removed wolves from the endangered list in Michigan and then declared them a game animal without so much as a stopover in vulnerable or threatened territory, even though the wolf numbers are not that great. Hunting could shortly result in endangering the wolves again, without any move to assure they can maintain a sufficient population.
Here is an article about a movement to assure wolf protection, with a petition and opportunities to attend hearings:
Michigan DNR to Host 4 Public Meetings on Wolf Hunting
Ballot Petitions Continue
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges.
LANSING, MICHIGAN – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host a series of public meetings in March to provide information to the public and answer questions regarding wolf management and the possibility of a future wolf hunting season.
The meetings will take place in the following locations from 6:00 to 8:00 pm:
- Tuesday, March 12, Gogebic Community College, David Lindquist Student Center, E4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood
- Wednesday, March 13, Northern Michigan University, Michigan Room, 2101 University Center, Marquette
- Tuesday, March 19, Wisconsin Street Hall, 610 S. Wisconsin, Gaylord
- Thursday, March 21, Lansing Center, Room 201, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing
The meetings will include a presentation by DNR Wildlife Division staff on wolf management techniques, including the potential use of public harvest as a management tool as prescribed in the state's Wolf Management Plan, which was developed through consensus by a roundtable of stakeholders representing a wide variety of interests related to wolf management.
Following the presentation, DNR staff will hold a question-and-answer session with members of the public. Meeting attendees will also be asked to participate in a survey regarding the possibility of the use of wolf hunting as a management tool in Michigan.
said DNR bear and furbearer specialist Adam Bump.
“The public input we receive through this survey will provide valuable information as the Wildlife Division develops its recommendation on wolf hunting for consideration by the Natural Resources Commission,”
In January 2012, wolves in Michigan were removed from the federal list of endangered species. In December 2012, wolves were declared a game species when Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed Public Act 520 of 2012.
“We encourage anyone interested in learning more about wolf management and a possible wolf hunting season to attend these meetings to have their questions answered and participate in the survey.”
Upon the reclassification of wolves as a game species, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, which holds the exclusive authority to set hunting regulations for game species in the state, directed the DNR's Wildlife Division to undertake a multi-pronged approach to developing a recommendation on whether a wolf management hunt should take place and what the parameters should be. The process currently under way includes:
- Completing a wolf population survey
- Compiling a thorough review of documented wolf conflicts, including depredation of livestock and pets
- Meeting with the Wolf Management Advisory Council to discuss a possible wolf harvest aimed at resolving conflicts
- Providing public input opportunities at meetings and through written comments
- Conducting government to government consultation with tribal governments
The DNR's recommendation on a wolf management season will be presented to the Natural Resources Commission for consideration no later than June 2013. Whether a wolf season will be established and what the season would entail is at the sole discretion of the Natural Resources Commission.
Petition Gathering Underway at 3 Indian Casinos
Meanwhile, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected is seeking to collect more than 225,000 signatures of Michigan voters to place a referendum on the ballot. If we are successful, a proposal will appear on the Michigan statewide ballot in 2014 that would allow voters to choose whether or not to enact the legislature's wolf hunting law.
Three American Indian casinos that have granted permission to allow signature gatherers in them are:
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Odawa Casino Resort
- Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians, Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie
- Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Lac Vieux Desert Resort Casino.
posted March 6, 2013 7:40 am est
http://www.nativenewsnetwork.com/michigan-dnr-to-host-4-public-meetings-on-wolf-hunting.html
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