Bill Text      Bill History      Bill Summary   

   TAKE ACTION       Talking Points   

    Find your WI State Representatives      What To Expect At A Public Hearing   

     SB 774, relating to: wolf monitoring and nonlethal abatement and making an appropriation., was introduced on 12/12/25 by Senators Habush Sinykin, Carpenter, Hesselbein, L. Johnson and Ratcliff and cosponsored by Representatives Stroud, Miresse, Andraca, Arney, Brown, DeSmidt, Joers, Palmeri, Prado, Roe, Sinicki and Tenorio.  It was assigned to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage.

     On December 17, 2025, a companion bill, AB 781, was introduced by Representatives Stroud, Miresse, Andraca, Arney, Brown, DeSmidt, Joers, Palmeri, Prado, Roe, Sinicki and Tenorio; and cosponsored by Senators Habush Sinykin, Carpenter, Hesselbein, L. Johnson and Ratcliff. It was referred to the Committee on Sporting Heritage.

     SB 774/AB 781, quite simply, would create a continuing appropiration of funds for for NONLETHAL programs to address wolf depredation of livestock.

From the Co-Sponsorship Memo:

     "The gray wolf is a keystone species in Wisconsin and holds significant ecological value and spiritual value for Wisconsin’s Indigenous peoples. Since the wolf population in Wisconsin has recovered significantly in recent decades, farmers and ranchers have been concerned about wolf depredation of livestock. While the politics surrounding wolf management and hunting policies have been divisive, this bill aims to provide resources to help farmers address this issue.

     "Following the February 2021 wolf hunt, which significantly exceeded the quota, which made international news and damaged Wisconsin’s reputation, the Wisconsin DNR established a committee to draft a new wolf management plan, which balances all stakeholders’ priorities and focuses on adaptive management. The package of administrative rules that followed that process have now been implemented as of November 1.

     "[SB 774/AB 781] simply follows adaptive management and science-informed policymaking for wolf management by providing $3,525,000 annually from the conservation fund to DNR for wolf monitoring and projects for nonlethal abatement of wolves. This provision was included in Governor Evers’ proposed 2025-27 budget. The funding would support non-lethal wolf abatement projects for farms in chronic wolf depredation sites, including options such as visual and auditory harassment tools, predator-proof fencing, electric fencing, and the alteration of animal husbandry practices. This bill would provide important resources to help DNR implement ecologically responsible management practices while also helping Wisconsin farmers and ranchers protect livestock using non-lethal strategies."

     WE STRONGLY SUPPORT this bill, which would protect one of Wisconsin's natural resources while also helping farmers in areas near wolf habitats.

Bill Summary (by the Legislative Reference Bureau):

     "This bill appropriates $3,525,000 annually from the conservation fund to the Department of Natural Resources for wolf monitoring and projects for nonlethal abatement of wolves."

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

     General guidelines for contacting your representatives: Try to keep your message brief, and be sure to give your name, complete mailing address, and phone number. Let your representative know that you are a constituent. Please, ALWAYS be polite and respectful. Name-calling, and rude or abusive letters or emails will hurt, rather than help, our cause.

• PLEASE contact your WI State Legislators and ask them to SUPPORT SB 774/AB 781, relating to: wolf monitoring and nonlethal abatement and making an appropriation. Once again, the oppositioni to this bill will be VERY vocal. We are hoping that those who wish to see more nonlethal management of WI wolves in the hands of experts at the DNR will be even MORE vocal. Please put something like "YES to SB 74/AB 781" in the subject line. All you really need to say is, "I am a constituent, and I am asking you please to vote YES on SB 774/AB 781, relating to: wolf monitoring and nonlethal abatement and making an appropriation. This bill would provide important resources to help DNR implement ecologically responsible management practices while also helping Wisconsin farmers and ranchers protect livestock using non-lethal strategies." You can add your reasons for asking if you wish to do so. (Scroll down this page for more info on the bill and Talking Points, if you need them, and, as always, please keep your tone polite and respectful.)

• Please see our Talking Points for more resources.

    Find your WI State Representatives      What To Expect At A Public Hearing   

Talking Points:

• We believe that non-lethal wolf abatement projects for farms in chronic wolf depredation sites, including options such as visual and auditory harassment tools, predator-proof fencing, electric fencing, and the alteration of animal husbandry practices, can be very effective if given the chance, and that hunting -- particularly hunting with dogs -- is totally unnecessary.

• SB 774/AB 781 would provide important resources to help DNR implement ecologically responsible management practices while also helping Wisconsin farmers and ranchers protect livestock using non-lethal strategies.

• SB 774/AB 781 would guarantee $3,525,000 annually from the conservation fund to DNR for wolf monitoring and projects for nonlethal abatement of wolves. This provision was included in Governor Evers’ proposed 2025-27 budget. This provision was included in Governor Evers’ proposed 2025-27 budget.

• According to Team Wolf (https://www.teamwolf.org/learning-hub): "Wolves are responsible for less than 1% of unwanted livestock deaths and according to USDA reports, wolves accounted for only 0.21% of sheep and 0.05% of cattle losses in states like Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Wisconsin.

  "Effective non-lethal wolf management techniques are available and have proven successful in reducing conflicts between wolves and livestock. Tools such as range riders, fladry (a perimeter of colorful flags around livestock), strobe lights, and loud noises can significantly lower wolf-livestock interactions. Since wolves can sometimes become accustomed to non-lethal tools, proactive measures like removing bone piles can further prevent wolves from being attracted to livestock areas, helping to minimize losses even more."

• Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan 2023: A Plan For Stewardship, Conservation And Management Of The Gray Wolf In Wisconsin from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Bureau of Wildlife Management, Madison, WI, October 2023. There is a LOT of information here, along with documentation.

• Team Wolf's 3 Things Every Wolf Management Plan Must Have in Mind explores mandatory wolf hunts (using WI's disastrous 2021 wolf slaughter as an example), "A pro-active, well-funded non-lethal strategy," and full transparency and full access to wolf data. This document is well worth the read.

• The January 2021 forced wolf hunt (slaughter)

    Bill Text      Bill History      Bill Summary   

   TAKE ACTION       Talking Points   

    Find your WI State Representatives   

    What To Expect At A Public Hearing