Feds likely will declassify wolves
Agricultural interests favor state control
By Jeff Starck
Wausau Daily Herald
There was little howling done at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service public hearing Wednesday, as the federal agency received overwhelming support in its effort to remove the endangered species tag from the gray wolf.
More than 30 people attended the hearing, and at least a dozen representing farmers, ranchers, sportsmen and agricultural organizations spoke in favor of the declassification.
Armed with this support, the Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to make the recommendation to allow the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan departments of natural resources to manage the wolf population and deal with problem wolves. A decision from the Department of Interior, the federal oversight agency, is expected in early 2007.
“We have got to keep (wolves) in check somehow,” said David Breunig, a farmer from Merrill, after describing how wolves have threatened his cattle.
A preliminary count of Wisconsin’s gray wolf population for the winter of 2005-06 showed 450 to 520 wolves in the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
As the population has exceeded federal and state expectations, wolves are migrating further south and are killing livestock in increasing numbers, according to the DNR.
Pat Tlusty has an 840-acre farm north of Medford and has dealt with wolves the past three years. He said he has lost seven calves during that time. To prevent further losses, he has maintained a constant vigil over his herd, which costs additional time and money.
“Wisconsin’s landscape cannot handle any more wolves,” said Jeff Lyon of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. “We are having problems in the agriculture sector and we need to be flexible (in handling wolves).”
Tlusty said he has been reimbursed for five of the lost calves, and the Fish and Wildlife Service has trapped and euthanized two wolves on his farm. Even if the wolf declassification is approved, he still has concerns.
“How is the state going to manage the program?” Tlusty asked. “Are we going to get permits to protect our livestock from predators, or will there be a hunting season?”
All three states have wolf management plans in place, and Wisconsin would have the ability to remove problem wolves, which isn’t possible under the federal Endangered Species Act.
As part of its management of the population, the state would continue monitoring the population for five years if declassification is approved.