By: By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio, Superior Telegram
The DNR says payments to owners of livestock and hunting dogs killed or injured by gray wolves may be delayed, and cut in size.
Gov. Walker bragged to the NRA last week that he recently signed the bill creating a wolf hunting and trapping season in Wisconsin this fall. But the measure shifts the oversight of wolf depredation payments to the DNR, with funds coming from the sale of wolf hunting and trapping licenses and applications. The DNR says that means it will run the wolf reimbursement program like it does for deer and other wildlife that cause agricultural damage, with payments coming just once a year in December after the hunting season. Also if there’s not enough money the payments could be pro-rated, meaning some people may get less cash than they expect for their dead cow or dog. The DNR’s Brad Koele says farm and hunting groups may raise a hue and cry.
Koele says it’s possible the legislature could come up with more funds for wolf depredation payments if enough farmers and hunters complain. The DNR says it’s still working on additional rules for the wolf reimbursement program.