Jim Lynch, The Detroit News
Lansing — The question of whether gray wolves should be hunted or protected returned to the spotlight Thursday in both Lansing and Washington, D.C.
In December, a federal judge placed wolves back on the endangered species list — a decision that has not been welcomed in many parts of Michigan because the federal interior secretary in 2011 took the predators off the protected list in part because of their growing numbers.
In response, U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls, joined four Democrats and 10 other Republicans in supporting the introduction of legislation Thursday that would direct the secretary of the Interior to reissue rules on the status of the wolves in Michigan and the other western Great Lakes states, as well as Wyoming. It’s a move that could lead to the endangered status of the wolves being challenged again.
“I’ve lived in Northern Michigan my whole life, and I have a great respect for all of the wildlife here, including the wolves,” said Benishek, who lives in and represents the Upper Peninsula. “After gaining valuable input from Michigan officials while helping to craft this legislation, I am pleased that this bill will empower state governments to be responsible stewards of the wolf population in order to balance the protection of the species with the needs of local communities.”
Other Michigan co-sponsors are GOP Reps. Tim Walberg of Tipton and Bill Huizenga of Zeeland.
The move came as the Michigan Natural Resources Commission held a meeting in Lansing Thursday afternoon and began taking public comments as the commission revises its wolf management process. A citizens’ ballot initiative, approved by the Legislature in August, restores the commission’s ability to decide whether to hold state-sanctioned wolf hunts.
The new law that takes effect in March makes moot voters’ rejection in November of two prior state laws that allowed wolf hunts.
The last hunt — Michigan’s only one in the past 75 years — was held in 2013 in three zones in the Upper Peninsula. Although a limit of 45 wolves was set, only 23 were killed. The state population is estimated to be 630 gray wolves.
On Tuesday, the Michigan Senate voted 26-12 to back a non-binding resolution asking for Congress’ help to overturn the federal judge’s ruling. Legislators also asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to appeal the court ruling.