Farm Bureau Backs DNR Wolf Control Plan
Wisconsin Ag Connection – 10/17/2005
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource has the state’s largest farm group behind its plan to seek approval for a permit to kill wolves that are depredating on livestock. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expressing its support for the DNR’s plan after a federal judge ruled last month that Wisconsin and Michigan are barred from killing problem wolves until the FWS holds a public review.
“Conflicts between wolves and livestock producers continue to escalate. The problem that was once confined to a small area of the state continues to expand into more areas in the state,” said Jeff Lyon, Director of Governmental Relations with the Farm Bureau.
The Farm Bureau said the state has exceeded its goals for numbers and distribution of wolves under Wisconsin’s wolf management plan, and the state needs all tools to manage the wolf population.
The judge made he decision in light of a lawsuit was filed by the Humane Society of the United States and other groups.
Wisconsin had killed 29 wolves since April, said Adrian Wydeven, a wolf specialist with the Department of Natural Resources. Officials estimated that the state’s gray wolf population was at 425 to 455 during the 2004-’05 winter. That’s up from 373 to 410 wolves the previous winter.