DNR wolf rules comment extended
For The Daily Press
The Daily Press
MADISON ý The Department of Natural Resources has extended until March 2 a public comment period on proposed rules regarding payment of damages to livestock, hunting dogs and pets caused by endangered and threatened wildlife species and gray wolves. The department extended its period for accepting written comments in response to requests from people who wanted more time past the original Feb. 18 deadline to comment on the proposed rule.
Rebecca Schroeder, section chief for ecosystem and diversity conservation in the departmentýs Bureau of Endangered Resources, said the extended comment period will allow people to make their views known in case they missed one of five public hearings conducted Feb. 15-17 in Spooner, Rhinelander, Black River Falls, Green Bay and Madison.
Since 1985 the DNR has been paying for damages gray wolves cause to livestock, hunting dogs and pets without administrative rules. In recent years, claims for wolf damage have increased, thus creating the need for rules, Schroeder said.
The proposed rules would set caps for maximum payments per type of livestock animal, establishes a reimbursement cap of $15,000 per claimant per year, and set a deductible of $250 per claim. These payment caps and conditions are similar to those of the wildlife damage claims program.
The proposed rules, subch. III of ch. NR 12, Wis. Adm. Code, may be reviewed and submitted at the following Internet site: http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Tim Cooke, Bureau of Endangered Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until March 2, 2005.