Meetings Planned to Discuss Status of Gray Wolves
Wisconsin Ag Connection – 02/11/2005
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is urging farmers to attend public
hearings this month to tell the Department of Natural Resources that
proposed compensation to farmers for losses to livestock by wolves is
inadequate. The farm group said a federal judge’s recent ruling that put
the gray wolf back on the endangered species list in Wisconsin, even
though the wolf has recovered in the state beyond that protection level,
means the state has lost its ability to control the wolf population. “As
the wolf population grows unchecked, farmers will face more losses to
livestock, so the compensation rules need to reflect that,” said Jeff
Lyon, director of Governmental Relations with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau.
“With wolf population controls gone, the only remedy farmers have from
wolf damage is adequate compensation.”
The DNR Board authorized public hearings on revisions to NR12 to establish
reimbursement to farmers for damage to livestock caused by gray wolves.
Under the proposal the maximum reimbursement would be $15,000 per claimant
per year, with a $250 deductible per claim.
The Farm Bureau will be asking the DNR to eliminate the deductible and
lift the payment cap. The Farm Bureau said these limits are inconsistent
with the Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan which believes livestock producers
should be fully compensated for losses due to wolves.
DNR hearing schedule is as follows:
** February 15 – Spooner High School
** February 15 – Black River Falls Middle School
** February 16 – James Williams Junior High School, Rhinelander
** February 17 – Ag & Extension Service Center, Green Bay
** February 17 – Union South, Madison