WI Department of Natural Resources New Wolf Management Draft Plan Will Be Up for Public Comment in January

By Rachel Tilseth, Wolves Of Douglas County Wisconsin

The new WI wolf management draft plan update that will be in effect for the next ten years (2025) and is scheduled to be released in early January. Then public input process will begin: written comments and public hearings (6) will be held throughout the state in the evenings. Here’s a news article link on this topic for further reading: http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2014/dec/12/dnr-to-take-public-information-on-2014-wolf-hunt-at-upcoming-meetings/

David MacFarland, large Carnivore Specialist for WDNR said, “We hope to have the public hearings sites, dates and times set by this Friday (12/19/14).”
We will update this with that information as it is made public.

Here’s part of what’s for debate: The draft will contain four wolf population choices,

1) including stabilizing the population where it stands now at 650 wolves
2) keep the 350-animal goal unchanged
3) keep the population between 300 and 650 wolves
4) setting a minimum floor of 350 wolves.

(photograph by Jim Brandenburg)

WI can support more than 350 wolves.

There has been a great deal of debate over how many wolves was set by WDNR Wolf Management Plan in 1999. Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association (WBHA) member, Al Lobner insists on sticking to the 1999 WI Wolf Management Plan’s goal of 350 wolves. He is one of 20 or so members on Wisconsin’s Wolf Advisory Committee (WAC). Here more on this here: http://atomic-temporary-72018855.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/16/350-wolves-versus-3000-wi-bear-hunters-association-members/

WI residents want wolves according to WDN’s own wolf survey. Read more here: http://atomic-temporary-72018855.wpcomstaging.com/2014/08/28/8281wdnr-wolf-survey-results-the-good-bad-and-the-ugly-by-rachel-tilseth/

WI’s Wolf Advisory Committee is stacked with pro wolf hunters and in no way represents public input. In brief, this means the new wolf management plan up for debate does not reflect the input from wolf advocacy organizations: such as, Humane Society of the U.S., Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, UW-Madison Scientists, Volunteer WDNR Winter Wolf Trackers, etc…

Therefore, it’s very important that wolf advocates attend public hearings on the new wolf management plan draft and give your input.

WI Wolf Advisory Committee developed this new Wolf Management Plan.

WDNR Wolf Advisory Committee read more here: http://atomic-temporary-72018855.wpcomstaging.com/2014/09/12/091114-cathy-stepps-new-wdnr-dysfunction-junction-by-rachel-tilseth/

Plain and simple, this wolf hunt serves the recreational trophy hunting community (fringe hunters) and is not a necessary tool for wolf management in WI. In fact it is causing more problems for wild wolf management and residents living in wolf range.

This wolf hunt raises questions on ethical hunting read more here: http://atomic-temporary-72018855.wpcomstaging.com/2014/12/08/wolf-killed-wdnr-violation-hotline-follow-up-leads-to-questions-of-ethics/

And read more here on poaching of wolves increasing because of this reckless wolf hunt: http://atomic-temporary-72018855.wpcomstaging.com/2014/11/01/is-wis-wolf-hunt-responsible-for-the-death-of-more-wolves-than-is-being-reported-by-rachel-tilseth/

The use of dogs is allowed as a method of hunting wolves only legal in WI. Get the FAQs here: http://atomic-temporary-72018855.wpcomstaging.com/2014/08/13/wodcw-faq-sheet-on-wolf-hound-hunting/

WI resident wolf advocates here is your chance to make public comment on this WDNR new wolf management draft plan that comes out in January 2015.