By Rob Wetterholt Jr.
KALAMAZOO, MI — The president of the Humane Society of the United States made a stop in Kalamazoo Tuesday to campaign against wolf hunting in Michigan.
The issue has been a hot topic since last year when the state Legislature approved a wolf hunt that was held in the fall. Twenty-three wolves were killed in the state’s first-ever managed wolf hunt.
Wayne Pacelle met with about a dozen citizens at the Kalamazoo Humane Society on South Westnedge Avenue before heading to OshtemoTownship to raise awareness.
“We don’t think voters agree with the decision by the Legislature to authorize trophy hunts of wolves on the state’s small, diminishing population of wolves,” Pacelle said. “We’re walking districts to tell lawmakers not to authorize another trophy hunt for wolves and to let citizens decide the issue directly in November.”
Hunting opponents have gathered enough petition signatures to force two statewide referendums on whether to repeal laws that could allow wolf hunting. But hunting supporters have collected their own signatures in favor of letting the appointed Natural Resources Commission make the decision.
If the Legislature approves the measure favored by hunting supporters, the fall referendums would be moot. If not, voters will see three wolf-related measures on the Nov. 4 ballot.
“The coalition is fighting to prevent trophy hunting of wolves and let citizens decide this issue on the ballot,” Pacelle said Tuesday in Kalamazoo.
Hunting advocates have said three hunting-related questions on the fall ballot would confuse voters and the issue is better left to the Natural Resources Commission.
Virginia Holden, 60, of Berrien Springs, was at the Humane Society office in Kalamazoo and said that the need to protect Michigan’s gray wolves is not only a matter of science but also a wildlife issue that all Michigan citizens should embrace.
“As apex predators, wolves maintain populations,” Holden said. “While people do want to hunt them, wildlife belongs to everyone.”
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.