Written by
Louise Knott Ahern
Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to sign into law new legislation that would allow the Natural Resources Commission to independently designate animals as game species, despite protests from wolf advocates who fear the move will limit voter participation in wildlife management.
Senate Bill 288 passed the House Thursday 72-38 and is now awaiting Snyder’s signature. It allows the NRC — an appointed body — to decide on its own whether certain animals should be hunted. Currently, only the legislature can name new game species.
Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said in an email Snyder believes “scientific, deliberative wildlife and game management is a good thing” and “fits the intent of voters with passage of Proposal G.”
Proposal G was approved by voters in 1996 and mandated the Natural Resources Commission rely on science and biology in managing the state’s wildlife and fisheries.
Wolf advocates, however, say bill 288 is an obvious attempt to thwart their efforts to seek a state referendum on whether to allow wolf hunting.
The Keep Michigan Wolves Protected initiative turned in more than 250,000 signatures in March seeking a place on the November 2014 ballot. They want to overturn a December 2012 law that classified wolves as a game species.
The signatures are currently under review by state election officials.
However, once Snyder signs Senate Bill 288 into law, the NRC could decide to independently name wolves as a game species before the petitions are even approved.
Since actions by the NRC cannot be overturned by referendum, wolf advocates say voters would have no voice on the issue and a wolf hunt already under consideration would proceed without recourse.
“Every indication is that this bill was introduced for one reason and one reason only — to circumvent the ballot referendum we’re pursuing,” said Jill Fritz, director of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected. “There is absolutely no reason to believe the NRC is not going to take advantage of that the first opportunity they get to declare wolves a game species on their own, to vote in that hunting and trapping season and start killing wolves as soon as they are able.”
Members of the NRC contacted by the Lansing State Journal say there has not yet been any conversation about whether to take that action.
NRC member Tim Nichols said the commission is required to make all decisions based on sound science, not politics.
“We’re there to provide a checks-and-balance for the people,” Nichols said. “People are either way over on one side of the wolf issue or way over on the other. But if you look at what the general biology and science is on an issue, how do we get to some middle ground that can be beneficial for wildlife and fisheries? That’s the job of the commission.”
The NRC is scheduled to meet May 9 in Roscommon for its monthly meeting. Members are expected to approve a limited wolf hunting season proposed by the Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR has recommended allowing hunters to hunt and trap 47 wolves in three areas of the Upper Peninsula where officials say the animals have killed livestock or become too brave in approaching residential areas.
The state’s leading sporting groups support the proposed hunt, as well as the legislation approved Thursday.
Tony Hansen of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs said hunting is an important tool in wildlife management — particularly for wolves.
He said many U.P. residents have begun to resent the wolves, which can be a greater threat to wildlife than anything else.
“Anti-hunting people say we’re just out to kill all the wolves, but it’s actually just the opposite,” Hansen said. “Without a hunting season and an active management that people feel a part of, wolves will have a much harder time because of the resentment factor. How sad is it that this species was brought back from extinction, and no one likes them? That’s a problem.”
Wolves were removed from the federal endangered species list in January 2012 after rebounding from just six animals in Michigan in 1973 to more than 700 last year.
A recent survey by the DNR counted 658 wolves. The state must maintain a population of at least 200 to keep the animals off the endangered species list.