Defenders of Wildlife oppose gray wolf bill

A recent survey of Minnesota's wolf populations determined that approximately 2,445 wolves currently roam the state, according to Defenders of Wildlife

March 16, 1999
Web posted at: 1:41 p.m. EST (1841 GMT)

The Minnesota House Agriculture Committee approved a bill March 10 that will allow the hunting and trapping of Minnesota gray wolves as long as the state wolf population exceeds 1,600 animals. Defenders of Wildlife announced Thursday it strongly opposes the bill.

The bill, HF1415, will go to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee next week.

"Establishing a hunting and trapping season on wolves in Minnesota is not appropriate or justified at this time" said Defenders President Rodger Schlickeisen. "A diverse group of citizens representing hunting and trapping interests, farmers, environmentalists and others agreed on a management plan, and this wasn't it. This legislation subverts the entire public participation process."

The bill, introduced by state Rep. Jim Tunheim, D-Kennedy, changes the current wolf management plan, reducing the fine for illegal take of wolves from $2,000 to $250 and loosening restrictions protecting wolves. The bill also sets the maximum statewide wolf population goal at 1,600, where an August 28, 1998, Wolf Management Roundtable recommended a minimum population of 1,600 animals. A recent survey of Minnesota's wolf population determined that approximately 2,445 wolves roam the state, according to Defenders of Wildlife.

"While Defenders has always recognized that professional control of wolves that prey on livestock is a necessary evil, allowing random, non-selective take through public hunting and trapping is a poor wildlife management decision," warned Nina Fascione, Defenders of Wildlife associate director of species conservation. "We have needed to grant the wolf federal protection under the Endangered Species Act for a quarter of a century, so it is premature to discuss wolf control by these methods, before the species is even delisted."

In 1974, wolves were listed as endangered throughout the lower 48 states. However, in Minnesota in 1978, they were reclassified as threatened. Because of increasing wolf populations in Minnesota and neighboring Michigan and Wisconsin, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to delist the species within the next year.

For more information, contact Ken Goldman, Defenders of Wildlife, (202)682-9400, ext. 237.

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