Gray Wolves Coming Off Endangered Species List in Wisconsin
By Jeff Alexander
State wildlife managers will soon have the authority to trap and euthanize dozens of problem wolves.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently announced the gray wolf population in the western Great Lakes region has recovered enough to remove the wolves from protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.
An Oconto County horse owner says the delisting of the wolves is coming just in time.
It’s a painful process for Michele Macha’s prized breeding stud named Cecil. Four times a day, she leads him into a heated barn and soaks his infected hooves in ice water. Her care is keeping him alive.
“He touches my heart because he’s such a fighter,” Macha says.
In late December, Michele discovered three of her horses on Rick True’s farm, about six miles east of Suring, in a bloody mess. She found Cecil in the worst shape, laying on the ground with bite marks and gashes on his muzzle, neck, back, and legs.
Macha had no doubt what had happened. “Oh I knew. If you had been… you’d have known.”
Macha’s vet along with Department of Natural Resource experts confirmed a pack of wolves tried to prey on the horses.
True feels it was just a matter of time. “We’ve seen them in the yard. Michele’s seen them in the yard. They came right up, they jumped on the water tank to take a drink.”
DNR wildlife biologists estimate Wisconsin’s wolf population around 500, although many people in Wisconsin believe there are many more.
Both True and Macha feel wolves have a place in Wisconsin but their population needs to be managed.
“When you see the eyes on them things, it’s so scary, just sends chills through you,” True said.
“We just don’t want them in our yard. We just don’t want them attacking our horses. They’re going after a big animal like that, what’s to stop them from going after some little kid or something?” Macha asked.
The delisting of gray wolves in Wisconsin takes effect March 12th.
The DNR confirms once it gets the go-ahead, it will aggressively trap and destroy dozens of problem wolves near a number of farms, mostly in Northern Wisconsin.
Two of Macha’s horses, including Kodiak, are doing well today. For Cecil, though, the state’s upcoming wolf control in problem areas may be too late. Since the attack, Macha says, Cecil is a changed horse, suffering mental trauma and a dangerous infection.
“As long as I can see he doesn’t give up, I’m not giving up on him.”