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ALERT UPDATE, 3/30/18: WOLVES ARE SAFE; SB 602/AB 712, AKA THE "WOLF POACHING BILL" IS DEAD.

 

A.B. 712 / S.B. 602, the proposal to encourage wolf poaching, is now DEAD for this session. Wolves are safe from this terrible legislation. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who responded to our call for action on this bill! .


 pawprint bullet point   AB 712 Full Bill Text    pawprint bullet point   SB 602 Full Bill Text   pawprint bullet point

 pawprint bullet point   AB 712 Bill History   pawprint bullet point   SB 602 Bill History   pawprint bullet point   Talking Points   pawprint bullet point


 

A Wisconsin wolf     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.

 pawprint bullet point   Hearing Materials for AB 712 on 1/10/2018   pawprint bullet point

     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.

 pawprint bullet point   Public Hearing Testimony, SB 602, 1/16/18   pawprint bullet point

 pawprint bullet point   Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and Forestry   pawprint bullet point

     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!

 pawprint bullet point   Find your WI State Representatives   pawprint bullet point

 pawprint bullet point   What To Expect At A Public Hearing   pawprint bullet point

 

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Talking Points:

 

Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage

Rep.Kleefisch@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Quinn@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Tittl@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Edming@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Nerison@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Mursau@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Skowronski@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Tusler@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Stafsholt@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Milroy@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Hesselbein@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Spreitzer@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Stuck@legis.wisconsin.gov
Rep.Brostoff@legis.wisconsin.gov

Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining and Forestry

Sen.Tiffany@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Testin@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Moulton@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Wirch@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov
  • Smith: Wolf poaching bill deserves to be buried, an excellent article by Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/10/17.

  • Wisconsin’s Green Fire: Voices for Conservation: A policy analysis of Senate Bill 602 and Assembly Bill 712 , legislation to limit Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conservation and management of gray wolves.

  • 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).

  • Under this bill, all monitoring of wolves will cease, including tracking #’s, collaring, health monitoring, etc.

    • Since 1980 the DNR has developed annual estimates of Wisconsin’s wolf population. Current accurate population estimates allow Wisconsin to assess how wolf population levels relate to number of depredations (livestock, pets, etc.) and deer population trends.

    • Data on individual wolves, especially pack members, is critical to understanding the impacts and efficacy of management actions such as wolf harvest seasons and depredation removals, and serves to guide future manag ement decisions.

    • If monitoring ceases, future federal funding for all wildlife will be jeopardized.

  • Violators may avoid prosecution for hunting/trapping violations for other species by claiming to be in pursuit of wolves

  • There may be increased use of trap and snare types that are not legal for use in Wisconsin.

  • This legislation would also prohibit an officer from coming to the aid of a federal warden enforcing a wolf - related law.

  • As attempts to poison wolves increases, all wildlife and domestic dogs will be at increasing risk.

  • Even though funding for wolf management programs would cease, hound dog depredation payments would continue.

  • This is not just about wolves. Enacting this bill into law would be setting an extremely dangerous precedent to circumvent federal law. Today it's wolves and the Endangered Species Act; tomorrow it could be federal protections for our clean air, water and other wildlife.

  • Remind them that this is an election year, and voters are very interested in whether or not their elected officials really DO 'represent' (or even respect) the opinions and values of their constituents.


 pawprint bullet point   AB 712 Full Bill Text    pawprint bullet point   SB 602 Full Bill Text   pawprint bullet point

 pawprint bullet point   AB 712 Bill History   pawprint bullet point   SB 602 Bill History   pawprint bullet point   Talking Points   pawprint bullet point

 pawprint bullet point   Find your WI State Representatives   pawprint bullet point

 

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