by Phil Ford
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission has announced that they will not consider having a wolf hunt for 2014.
The NRC has to wait to see if two referendums on the November ballot authorizing a wolf hunt this year will pass. Even if they pass, there is just not enough time to put together a wolf hunt this year.
“It still has to be done scientifically; it still has to be done so that it’s not going to harm the population as a whole,” says wildlife biologist Brian Roell. “We wouldn’t have time after that November election in a couple of weeks to throw together a wolf season, that wouldn’t be the smart or prudent thing to do.”
There is already a separate law giving the NRC the authority to name wolves a game species. It will take effect in March or April of next year.
Wolf advocates have been promoting petitions to support voters having a say in the naming of a game species.