DNR seeks public input on wolf management plan
As a management goal of 350 wolves in Wisconsin (outside Indian reservations) too high, too low or just right?
Should livestock owners on private land or dog owners whose animals are being attacked by wolves on public land be allowed to shoot or use other lethal means to fend off the attacking predators?
Should the Department of Natural Resources continue to reimburse owners of pets and livestock for animals killed or injured by wolves?
Should wolves in agricultural and urban zones be treated differently than wolves in the northern forest?
These are among questions the DNR is submitting to the Wisconsin public as it prepares a five-year review of the Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan adopted in 1999.
The purpose of the review is to gather public opinion before presenting an addendum to the current plan. Those changes will be submitted to public hearings and the recommendations forwarded to the Natural Resources Board.
The 1999 plan called for a long-term goal of maintaining 350 wolves outside Indian reservations. At the start of 2004, before this year’s pups were born, the DNR estimated there were 108 established wolf packs in the state, consisting of 361 to 398 wolves plus an additional 12 wolves on Indian lands.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials removed timber wolves from the endangered list in Wisconsin in 2003 and from the threatened list on July 16. Thus, management of wolves is reverting to the state in accordance with its 1999 plan, which requires regular five-year updates.
“We wish to assess how well the plan is working and to determine if portions of the plan need to be modified or new items need to be included,” the DNR states at the top of its questionnaire.
“We value you(r) input, and to assure that all are legitimate citizen comments we will only consider comments when you include your name and address at the end of the questionnaire.”
Timber wolves currently are found in most counties in the northern half of the state and in several public land areas in the central counties. Some livestock depredation traced to wolves has occurred in those areas.
The northern counties encompass the state’s prime black bear, ruffed grouse and woodcock range. Hunters pursuing those game species have lost valuable hunting dogs to timber wolves, which have a tendency to pursue and kill large canids (including dogs and coyotes) that invade their territory.
In one of the latest wolf attacks, three bear hounds were killed Aug. 4 in the town of Shanagolden near Glidden in Ashland County. Two of the dogs were owned by a Stratford hunter, the other by a Unity man.
According to Adrian Wydeven of Park Falls, a DNR wolf expert, this is the first time wolf depredation has been reported in the Shanagolden area although wolves have been present in that sector for several years.
“The Shanagolden pack, with nine to 11 wolves, was one of the largest packs in the state,” Wydeven stated. “Average pack size was less than four.”
He said wolves and pups are at rendezvous sites at this time of year but added it is not known if the wolves were protecting such a site.
“Hunters training bear hounds may want to stay away or exercise greater caution if they plan to train or hunt dogs in this area,” Wydeven said.
The DNR will provide compensation to the dogs’ owners, he said.
Compensation has been a critical issue for livestock owners as well as dog owners, who also would like the legal right to defend their animals in the event of a wolf attack.
Just if, how and when such action will be allowed is a critical piece of the wolf management plan and a key question being put to the public.