WISCONSIN WOLF HUNTING UPDATE,
from press release dated 2/11/22: "The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) today announced that following a U.S. District court’s
ruling on Feb. 10 returning wolves in the lower 48 states (except the northern
Rocky Mountains region) to the Federal Endangered Species List, Wisconsin is
not authorized to implement a wolf harvest season. The DNR is reviewing the
ruling to determine how it impacts hunters and trappers who purchased licenses
for the Fall 2021 wolf hunt.
"Wisconsin’s wolf
population remains healthy and secure in the state. The department will
continue its robust wolf population monitoring program to ensure the population
remains healthy and sustainable into the future. The DNR will also continue
working towards promulgation of rules and the completion of a wolf management
plan to guide management decisions. The DNR is reviewing the decision to
determine how it impacts Wisconsin’s wolf management program.
"Other immediate
implications of this ruling include the following:
Permits allowing lethal removal
of wolves issued to landowners experiencing wolf conflicts are no longer valid.
The department will contact permit holders directly.
The department is not authorized
to use lethal control as part of its conflict management program. Non-lethal
tools remain available.
The
training of dogs to track and trail wolves is not allowed. Dog hunters may no
longer pursue wolves for training purposes. [emphasis ours]
"The DNR remains committed
to assisting individuals that experience conflicts with wolves through an
interagency cooperative agreement with USDA-Wildlife Services for abatement and
control. If you suspect wolves in the depredation of livestock, pets or hunting
dogs, or if wolves are exhibiting threatening or dangerous behavior, contact
USDA-Wildlife Services staff immediately. If in northern Wisconsin, call
1-800-228-1368 or 715-369-5221; if in southern Wisconsin, call 1-800-433-0663
or 920-324-4514."
Read
the entire press release here.
BREAKING
NEWS, 2/10/22: Federal Court vacates USFWS decision to de-list wolves and
restores protections! "U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland,
California, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to show wolf
populations could be sustained in the Midwest and portions of the West without
protection under the Endangered Species Act." (You can read more about this story here.)
"CONCLUSION:
For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS judgment in favor of Plaintiffs and
against Defendants. The “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife,” 85 Fed. Reg. 69,778 (Nov. 3, 2020), is vacated and remanded. A
separate judgment shall issue, and the Clerk shall close the file.
IT IS SO ORDERED."
Wildlife
advocacy groups said the judge’s order would most immediately put a stop
to hunting in the Great Lakes region
Judge restores protections for gray wolves across much of
US
Other news, 2/10/22: The Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wolf Management Plan Committee (WMPC)
final report to the DNR is now available.
You can read it here.
WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN COMMITTEE REPORT January 2022
UPDATE,
12/17/21 from Public News Service: "A Wisconsin court has effectively
ended any chance of a winter wolf hunt in the state. . . . The court schedule
indicates a final decision likely won't come until next spring, after the
window to host a wolf hunt closes."
Next WI Wolf Hunt Blocked for Remainder of Season
Following a circuit court’s ruling enjoining the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) from implementing the wolf harvest law, the DNR
today announced that licenses have not been issued to state hunters and
trappers for the Fall 2021 wolf hunt (which had been scheduled to begin on
November 6th).
Dane County judge temporarily bars Wisconsin's wolf hunt,
orders DNR to set quota of zero wolves
WI
DNR Wolf Hunting and Trapping website tells us: "The DNR is currently
reviewing the court-ordered injunction of the 2021 Fall wolf season, including
issuing wolf harvest licenses. Wolf harvest applications will remain in their
submitted status until further notice. We thank you for your patience."
There has been so much going on with
the WI Wolf Hunt this year, it is difficult to keep up with everything. Despite
the The Natural
Resources Board deciding the quota would be 300 wolves, the DNR set the
quota at 130 -- causing quite a bit of controversy. There have been a number of
lawsuits, also, including the one referenced above which stated that "the
agency failed to adopt a permanent rule enforcing the law and update its wolf
management plan."
Meanwhile,
in accordance with the court order and the department’s ongoing plans, the
DNR will continue working towards promulgation of rules and the completion of a
wolf management plan to guide management decisions.
If
you are following the process, here are some links that might be of interest:
 Public input on wolf harvest season, May 2021
(pdf)
Wolf Harvest Advisory Committee Minutes
(6/22/21)
2021 Wolf
Harvest Advisory Committee Public Comments
WI
DNR Wolf Hunting and Trapping Natural Resources
Board
|
On 30 March 2016, Gov. Scott Walker signed 2015 assembly
Bill 700 into law. The now- 2015 WI Act 285 states that when wolves are no
longer listed as endangered: "The department shall establish a single
annual open season for both hunting and trapping wolves that begins on the
first Saturday in November of each year and ends on the last day of February of
the following year." 