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 AB 712, "enforcement of federal
and state laws relating to the management of the wolf population and to the
killing of wolves and expenditure of funds for wolf management purposes,"
was introduced into the WI State Assembly on December 5, 2017. It was
immediately referred to the
Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting
Heritage.
The
Assembly public hearing on this bill lasted about 3 1/2 hours. Thirty people
registered against the bill, eight in favor, according to Legislative aides.
The WI Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage passed
Assembly Bill 712 out of committee by a vote of 9 to 5, along party lines
anyway. However, it HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED FOR ASSEMBLY VOTE, with the
legislative session essentially at an end.
 Hearing Materials for AB 712 on
1/10/2018
Its
Senate counterpart, SB 602, was introduced on November 30, 2017, and was
referred to the
Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and Forestry.
The
WI Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and Forestry public hearing on
AB 712/SB 602 was held on TUESDAY, January 16, 2018. As of 3/1/18, the bill
apparently has not yet been passed out of committee.
Public Hearing Testimony, SB 602,
1/16/18
Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and
Forestry
Essentially, AB 712/SB 602 would
allow unregulated killing of wolves in Wisconsin for as long as the wolves are
on the Federal Endangered or Threatened Species list -- in effect endorsing the
year- round unregulated trapping, hounding, poisoning and killing of wolves
(poaching) and preventing the state from future wolf monitoring efforts.
For
obvious reasons dubbed the Wolf Poaching Bill, AB 712/SB 602 would also
discontinue funding for wolf management in Wisconsin, and make it illegal for
state police, sheriffs or conservation wardens to enforce laws related to the
management or killing of wolves. Only federal agents could enforce wolf
regulations in Wisconsin -- state law enforcement officials would be barred
from assisting their federal colleagues.
Bill
Summary:
"This bill makes changes to
the laws regulating wolf hunting and the laws authorizing funding for wolf
management activities.
"Under current law, the
Department of Natural Resources is required to allow the hunting and trapping
of wolves if the wolf is not listed on the U.S. list of endangered and
threatened species and is not listed on the state endangered list.
"This bill prohibits a law
enforcement officer from enforcing a federal or state law that relates to the
management of the wolf population in this state or that prohibits the killing
of wolf in this state. The bill also prohibits DNR from expending any funds for
the purpose of managing the wolf population in this state other than for the
purpose of making payments under the endangered resources program to persons
who apply for reimbursement for certain damage caused by wolves and prohibits
DNR from taking any action to inform or support federal law enforcement
officers regarding the enforcement of any federal or state law relating to
wolves. The bill specifies that these prohibitions apply only if wolves are
listed on the U.S. list of endangered and threatened species. Under the bill,
if wolves are removed from that list, the prohibitions in the bill will no
longer apply."
WHAT YOU CAN
DO:
Please call or email your WISCONSIN state representatives (see link below to
find your WI
representatives ). Try to keep your message brief, and be sure to give your
name, 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.
Tell them that you are a
constituent and let them know in no uncertain terms that you OPPOSE SB 602/AB 712!
If you phone, that is all you
need to do.
If you want to give reasons for
your position, please see our Talking Points and
links for further information below!
Also, please post your
OPPOSITION on your Representative's and Senator's Facebook pages!
Find your WI State
Representatives
What To Expect At A Public Hearing
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