Delist the Gray Wolf - Current Events
JUNE 19, 2024 – MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS TAYLOR COUNTY SPORTSMAN’S CLUB/HUNTER NATION FORUM If you’re of the opinion that wolves need to be more tightly managed in Wisconsin and beyond –– which just about every one of the at least 200 in attendance likely was at Tuesday’s predator management forum in Medford –– change is only going to happen through pressure on elected officials who have the ability to make that change. That was the main message drilled into those in attendance at the forum, which was held at the Simek Recreation Center through the cooperation of the Taylor…
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MEDFORD, Wis. (WAOW) By Sabrina Lee Dozens gathered in Medford to discuss the predatory impact on hunting in Wisconsin, with the grey wolf population taking center stage. Since their reintroduction to areas in Yellowstone and Idaho nearly 30 years ago, there are an estimated 950 to over a thousand wolves in the Badger state. That's up from 248 in the year 2000. The grey wolf is currently listed as an endangered species in Wisconsin, which means they may only be killed in defense of human life. Hunter Nation, who organized the forum, said population has to be managed. “We are…
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On Friday, May 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (CT), the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold an oversight field hearing titled “How Many Wolves Are Enough? Examining the Need to Delist the Gray Wolf.” This hearing will be focused on the impacts of an unmanaged gray wolf population on local communities. Specifically, the subcommittee will hear from impacted stakeholders from the agriculture community, sportsman, local elected officials, and wildlife biologists. Witnesses and Testimony The Honorable Steve Green – State Senator – Minnesota State Senate – St. Paul, Minnesota Mr. John Williams – Wolf Committee Co-Chair – Oregon Cattleman’s…
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By Benjamin Yount | The Center Square – A Northwoods’ congressman says he has the science on his side in the debate over what to do about the gray wolf. Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany got his plan to take the gray wolf off the endangered species list through the House. It was a close vote, just 209 to 205, and the plan faces a dim future in the U.S. Senate. Still, Tiffany said there’s more than enough evidence that the gray wolf population is large enough to remove it from the protected list. “The science is clear; the gray wolf…
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May 1, H.R. 764 to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act passed the House. This is a BIG WIN for Wisconsin hunters, pet owners, and farmers. Thank you, @HunterNation , for all the support. Rep. Tom Tiffany@RepTiffany
Mission, KS – Hunter Nation applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for its bipartisan effort in passing Congressman Tom Tiffany’s (WI-07) and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's (CO-03) legislation to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. The “Trust the Science Act (H.R. 764),“ removes the gray wolf from the list of endangered species and prevents judicial review of the delisting. This bill gives each state and the state wildlife agencies the ability to manage the gray wolf population as they currently manage all wildlife within its state’s border.
by The Associated Press Thu, April 4th 2024 DENVER — A wolf has killed a calf in Colorado, wildlife officials said Wednesday, confirming the first livestock kill after 10 of the predators were controversially reintroduced in December to the aggrievement of the state's rural residents. Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed after an investigation that the wounds of the calf killed Tuesday, and nearby wolf tracks, were consistent with a wolf kill, what they refer to as a “depredation.” “The field investigation found multiple tooth rake marks on the calf’s hindquarters and neck, and hemorrhaging under the hide, consistent with wolf depredation,” Jeromy…
MORE
By Courtney Flatt (Northwest News Network) Some ranchers are saying it is time to find creative ways to deal with wolf attacks on livestock. That’s what a new bill in the Washington state Senate hopes to do — to the frustration of some wildlife rights groups. A big goal of Senate Bill 5939 is to lethally remove wolves that chronically attack livestock. Right now, ranchers say, current methods — with all the paperwork and decisions — are like disciplining your pet, days later. The wolves don’t understand why they are being targeted. “I think if people listen to what’s being proposed, they…
MORE
On Friday, March 31st, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vetoed 41 bills which had been passed by the state’s legislature. Among the vetoed bills was Senate Bill, SB139, which would have set a target population goal for the gray wolf which would have helped manage the state’s out-of- control and currently unmanaged wolf population. The veto was immediately condemned by Wisconsin hunters, farmers and residents in the areas most impacted by the increasing wolf population, and around the nation by groups who see the move as purely political.
Wisconsin Public Radio – By Danielle Kaeding Supporters of the bill say it's necessary to keep the wolf population in check Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed a Republican bill that would have ordered state wildlife regulators to set a statewide population goal for wolves. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond, and Rep. Chanz Green, R-Grand View, after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources nixed a population goal in an update of its wolf management plan. In his veto message, Evers said he was vetoing the bill because he objected to a numeric goal for wolves. He also…
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Field and Stream by Travis Hall Back in December, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) released five gray wolves on public land west of Denver. The widely-publicized release took place amid heavy opposition from hunters and conservation groups because it had been mandated by a narrowly-passed ballot initiative four years earlier. Now, Colorado’s voting public is on the cusp of considering yet another controversial wildlife-related ballot referendum. The ballot initiative that led to December’s wolf release, known as Proposition 114, was a shining example of what conservation-minded hunters often decry as “ballot box biology.” It put a critical wildlife management decision—something typically hashed out through…
MORE
Nevada Current – By Jeniffer Solis State wildlife managers reported a possible wolf pack sighting in Nevada for the first time in over 100 years on Wednesday. Last week, a helicopter crew conducting an aerial moose survey spotted three suspected wolves traveling together in northeast Nevada near Merritt Mountain, north of Elko. State wildlife biologists are now working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to confirm the sighting of one of Nevada’s most iconic native carnivores. “The Nevada Department of Wildlife observed three suspected wolves, but we have not officially confirmed the sighting yet. We continue to investigate to…
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Fox News By Thomas Catenacci House Republicans are urging the Biden administration to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act, pointing to conflicts with ranchers and farmers, along with the species' growing population. As the species is delisted from the endangered list in several states, farmers fear increased livestock predation and call for stricter management strategies. GOP lawmakers propose legislation to either fully delist the gray wolf or grant states more control over their management. Farmers argue that the growing wolf population poses a significant threat to their farms and ranches.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has released its 2023 figures for that season's deer hunt harvest, the state's estimated wolf population and depredation payments, illustrating the complex trends central to the politics of regulating a controversial and charismatic animal. By Nathan Denzin | Here & Now (PBS Wisconsin) Deer hunting comes up a lot when people talk about wolves in Wisconsin. The harvest numbers for the 2023 gun season showing an annual dip in the number of deer taken home are likely to feed more conversations. Only about 295,000 deer were harvested in Wisconsin in 2023, representing a more than 50%…
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CNN's Lucy Kafanov reports.– Packs of gray wolves are once again roaming the Colorado Rockies after the state approved the first-ever voter mandated reintroduction of wolves. While urban voters and environmental advocates applaud the move, some ranchers are worried about the apex predator's potential impact on livestock and livelihoods.
The Denver Post By Elise Schmelzer One wolf’s collar is no longer working, wildlife officials said. Colorado’s reintroduced wolves continue to roam widely across the state in the last month, though wildlife officials who released a tracking map said the geolocating collar for one of the canines was no longer working. The 12 wolves known to live in Colorado, including 10 released in December, spent time in a large swath of the state, according to a new map of wolf activity released Wednesday by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Here's where Colorado's new wolves roamed in March as they expanded their territory
by TOM AIZENBERG | KRNV EL DORADO COUNTY, Ca. — One man is dead after being attacked by a mountain lion in Georgetown, California on Saturday afternoon. On March 23 at approximately 1:15 p.m., the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) received a 911 call from an 18-year-old who reported that a mountain lion near the remote area of Darling Ridge Road and Skid Road in Georgetown attacked him and his 21-year-old brother. The caller suffered traumatic injuries to his face and was separated from his brother during the attack. EDSO deputies and paramedics arrived at 1:34 p.m. and began…
MORE
Fox News by Thomas Catenacci Releasing the apex predator into the region will improve ‘social tolerance' of the species, the Biden administration said. Wildlife expert Tom Nelson weighs in on the Biden administration's reported plan to release grizzly bears in a federally-managed forest area near communities in Washington on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime. We're prioritizing apex predators over elk and deer: Tom Nelson Washington cattle producer Neil Kayser: Grizzly bear relocation is a danger to our families and livestock Washington cattle producer Neil Kayser discusses the Biden administration's aims to relocate the bears to the state on ‘The Ingraham Angle.'
St. Paul, Minn. (Northern News Now) – By Madisan Green The conversation about wolves and deer in the Northland continues in the Minnesota Capitol. Rep. Roger Skraba (R, Ely) Said: “It’s time to delist it and start putting pressure on the people that make a federal decision” “Bear management, wolf management, timber management, look at all of them and see how they work to bring more deer onto the landscape”
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS By KAYE THORNBRUGH daho’s grizzly bear population tops out at about 200, depending on the time of year, with the largest concentration of grizzlies existing in the Panhandle and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. https://cdapress.com/news/2024/mar/21/idaho-wolf-trapping-cut-over-threat-to-grizzlies/
White Mountain Independent – By Peter Aleshire Mexican Gray Wolves saw a 24% increase in 2022 and a 6% increase in 2023 putting the number in AZ/NM at 257 total. Ranchers say reimbursement programs don’t cover their losses. They maintain that even the presence of the wolves affects how much weight cattle gain.
Montana Outdoor – Moosetrack Megan A March 19, 2024 federal court decision will change wolf trapping seasons in some regions of Idaho based on their alleged potential effect on grizzly bears. “We’re very disappointed in this decision,” Fish and Game Director Jim Fredericks said. “While wolf trapping seasons will change to comply with the order, we’re considering our legal options to reverse a decision we believe is wrong based on the law and on-the-ground reality.” The ruling perpetuates misunderstandings about wolves, grizzly bears and trapping in Idaho, Fredericks added. “Idaho has had wolf trapping seasons for over 10 years. We’ve…
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FarmProgress – by Olivia Sip Wolf population protection and livestock production create a tricky balance. A top priority for the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association is advocating for the delisting of the gray wolf. Kaitlyn Root, executive director of the MSCA, says, “There are over 2,900 wolves in the state of Minnesota, and we have producers that struggle losing calves to wolves, which is a really big deal.”MN has the largest Gray Wolf population the 48 contiguous states, and that is a problem for cattle producers in the wolf habitat areas –
Hunter Nation President Keith Mark, in a recent PBS documentary, discusses the conservative hunting advocacy group's perspective on how the economics of game management plays a role in wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation. By Nathan Denzin | Here & Now (PBS Wisconsin) Keith Mark: Sometimes I wonder if these anti-hunting groups really care about wildlife, like they say, 'cause they sure don't put their money where their mouth is. You can look at the Pittman-Robertson Act and see how much money that the American hunter pours into conservation on an annual basis. Billions of hunter dollars go to fund your Wisconsin DNR,…
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Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Brad Olson describes concerns about the state's 2023 wolf management plan related to how a growing population of the predator impacts ranching and hunting. By Nathan Denzin | PBS Wisconsin (Here & Now) Brad Olson: I think the biggest fact is is that that wolves, they're just predatory. So they take what's there, they take what's available and in one case in central Wisconsin, they came in in a night and wiped out the entire herd of sheep. That's years and years of work by that individual farmer, it's the emotional stress of something like that, losing…
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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife species section supervisor Sam Jonas describes the legal requirements and population objectives shaping the state's 2023 plan to manage wolves. By Nathan Denzin | Here & Now (PBS Wisconsin) Sam Jonas: I would say, you know, the overarching result of the 2023 wolf management plan is that it strives for a sustainable and healthy wolf population in the state of Wisconsin, and that's the real goal of the plan itself. In regards to protections, you know, wolves are federally protected currently and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife sort of manages restrictions, what the states can or…
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By Bill Bartlett | The Nugget Long Hollow Ranch sits on 12,000 acres across two counties. Its main entrance is on Holmes Road in the heart of Sisters Country. The most visible part of the operation is its wedding and event venue but behind the bucolic setting are cows. Hundreds of them. The ranch also sits on an AKWA (Area of Known Wolf Activity). Long Hollow is claiming the loss of seven cows to wolves beginning in February of 2023 with the most recent loss last year between May and July when two calves went missing. One of the five…
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Mountain Journal by David Tucker The Gray Wolf and a Dogged Pursuit A COALITION OF WESTERN ENVIRONMENTALISTS SEEKS RENEWED ENDANGERED SPECIES STATUS FOR WESTERN GRAY WOLVES The US Fish and Wildlife Service decided that placing the Western Gray Wolf back on the endangered species list was “not warranted.” Now, the Western Environmental Law Center says it intends to sue
By Brandon Ferdig | Star Tribune – Attendees fill Morrill Hall on Dec. 18, with State Rep. Isaac Schultz (left) and Steve Porter at the front. Look plainly at the wolf issue, and we can see the source of the conflict: 1. Wolves are revered. 2. Wolves can cause serious harm. This animal whose howl at the moon elicits within us spine-tingling wonder is the same one that would latch its jaws onto your dog. It's hard managing something beloved yet potentially harmful, especially when those at odds also belong to opposing demographics. But now let's turn the volume way…
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Colorado Times Recorder – by Brodie Farquhar STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – About 100 ranchers from northwest Colorado gathered Wednesday evening to hear Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) and Wildlife Services personnel present information about the reintroduction of grey wolves into western Colorado. Officials answered questions about how to prevent wolf depredations on livestock, as well as how the state will compensate ranchers for losses. Carhart overalls, cowboy hats, and wildlife officer uniforms filled a meeting room at the Steamboat Community Center. Wildlife managers Justin Pollock and Kyle Bond outlined options for ranchers affected by wolf depredation against livestock (cattle, horses, mules,…
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By Nathan Denzin | Here & Now | PBS Wisconsin Indigenous communities, farmers, hunters and Wisconsinites of all stripes express strong feelings about wolves as their numbers grow in the state and a new management plan for the species is unveiled. Bring up wolves to a Wisconsinite, and you’ll likely get a passionate response. “They’re going to allow an unchecked, unmanaged wolf population to continue to wreak havoc,” said Keith Mark. “The more you put wolves in close contact, in proximity with people, the greater the chances are of something truly catastrophic happening,” said Brad Olson. “I’m here today to talk about my…
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The Fence Post | Arkansas Valley Cattlewomen The Arkansas Valley Cattlewomen are vehemently opposed to the reintroduction of wolves into Colorado under all circumstances. The recent reintroduction of wolves into Grand County by Colorado Parks and Wildlife was deceitful, irresponsible and negligent due to the fact that they lied to Coloradans about the history of the pack from which these wolves originated. These wolves that were introduced were from known deprecating packs of which other members of the pack were destroyed because of their livestock kills. Wolves are not extinct and have thrived in refuges where they are safe and…
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Trevor Ballantyne | Steamboat Pilot Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves onto public land in Grand County on Dec. 18. Since then, the wildlife agency has not received any reports of the wolves attacking livestock in Colorado, but the ranching community remains concerned over how to mitigate conflicts with the animals. Colorado Parks and Wildlife/Courtesy photo Colorado Parks and Wildlife hosted a meeting with area livestock producers Wednesday to answer questions and listen to concerns over the state’s wolf reintroduction effort. Packed into a room at the Steamboat Springs Community Center, ranchers heard from CPW staff about how…
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Wyoming Public Radio | By Melodie Edwards A recent decision to reintroduce wolves has created division between rural and urban Coloradoans. But wolves have actually been there a while. A few years ago, a couple migrated down from Wyoming to settle in the mountain valley of North Park, southwest of Laramie. It’s given the ranchers there a headstart on adjusting to a new reality. As soon as I climbed out of the car, longtime North Parker Gayle Woodsum pointed out a coyote jogging away from her animal rescue ranch. “Oh, there's one right there now,” she said, pointing. “Oh, yeah,” I…
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By: Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner A former Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warden who served on the agency’s committee to create a new wolf management plan for the state is under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for killing a wolf in his yard in December. He has claimed self-defense, but he posted on Facebook in November that he was baiting the animals with doughnuts and rice crispy cereal. The warden, Patrick Quaintance, also sits on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress where he holds positions on the body’s fur harvest and bear committees. The conservation congress serves…
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By Mark Heinz | Cowboy State Daily Some of Colorado’s wolves have been pushing north, toward the Wyoming state line. It's likely just a matter of weeks before some cross over into Wyoming, where they can be shot on sight. There’s no telling when wolves from Colorado will cross the state line into Wyoming. But it’s bound to happen, and it could happen soon, a wolf watcher said. “If I had a crystal ball, what do I think? I think that sometime within the next four to six weeks, we’ll have one cross, or maybe a couple cross over,” Colorado resident…
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By Ashlee Manalang | Earth.org Controversial legislative actions and management strategies threaten the progress made in wolf recovery efforts. Despite federal wildlife authorities declining pleas to reinstate safeguards for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies, conservation groups continue to advocate for their protection. In recent decades, there has been a paradigm shift in attitudes toward wolves, largely due to a better understanding of their ecological importance. Wolves are now recognized as apex predators. As such, they contribute to controlling the populations of prey species and ensuring the overall balance and health of the ecosystem. However, it will be hard to…
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Clay Newcomb ventures to southeast Alaska in search of wolves and Sitka blacktail deer with his friend and outfitter, David Benitz. Traveling aboard sea boat and skiff, Clay shadows David along his expansive traplines across the vast coastal Alaskan beaches. David shares his art for trapping along with his love and appreciation for the wolf and desire to manage them as a natural renewable resource. After discovering a few empty sets, they change their attention towards blacktail deer. But finding deer in country that's riddled with predators proves difficult. In the end, persistence pays off with multiple successful sets and…
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Colorado Trappers & Predator Hunters Association Rallying call to Preserve our Wilderness Heritage: Colorado At the Forefront – SaveTheHuntColorado.com In recent years, Colorado has become the battleground for a movement threatening not just the hunting tradition, but the very essence of wildlife management. This is not merely a local issue; it’s a ripple that could stir waves across all states. The assault on Colorado’s hunting community and wildlife managers is a precursor to what sportsmen across America might face. Over the last 5 years, relentless attempts have been made to undermine the regulated harvest of Colorado Mountain Lions and Bobcats. The onslaught…
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USFWS – Federal Register – A Proposed Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 02/07/2024 We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a finding on the gray wolf ( Canis lupus) in the Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM) and in the Western United States. After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial data, we find that gray wolves within the NRM area do not, on their own, represent a valid listable entity; therefore, the NRM is not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the gray…
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Hunter Nation denounces the Biden administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for their decision to make no change to the gray wolf’s status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced their decision to make no change in the wolf’s status, at least until September 2025, they stated their decision was based, in part, by the fact that the debate over the management of wolves has included more than two decades of litigation where courts have invalidated five out of six rules finalized by the USFWS on the gray wolf status. Hunter…
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Field & Stream BY TRAVIS HALL The controversial plan was mandated by a narrowly-passed ballot initiative back in 2020. On Monday, December 9, Colorado wildlife officials uncrated five gray wolves on a tract of public land west of Denver. The wolves were captured in Oregon earlier this winter. Their release is part of an ongoing effort to re-stock the species into its historic range in select parts of the Centennial State. he five wolves were the first of anywhere from 30 to 50 that will be released in Colorado over the next 3 to 5 years, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW)…
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USFWS – Federal Register – A Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 11/08/2023 We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), establish a nonessential experimental population (NEP) of the gray wolf ( Canis lupus) in the State of Colorado, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The State of Colorado (Colorado Parks and Wildlife or CPW) requested that the Service establish an NEP in conjunction with their State-led gray wolf reintroduction effort. Establishment of this NEP provides for allowable, legal, purposeful, and incidental taking of the gray wolf within a defined NEP area while concurrently providing for the conservation…
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Hunter Nation, is celebrating the efforts of Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Tom Tiffany (R-WI) for their wildlife management legislation, H.R. 764, known as, the “Trust The Science Act”. The legislation mandates the delisting of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This delisting would effectively return the management of the gray wolf to state lawmakers and state wildlife officials. The legislation would also prevent judicial review of the legislative action. The bill passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee last week and demonstrates that science can trump politics on this critical conservation issue. Keith Mark, Hunter…
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JUNE 19, 2024 – MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS TAYLOR COUNTY SPORTSMAN’S CLUB/HUNTER NATION FORUM If you’re of the opinion that wolves need to be more tightly managed in Wisconsin and beyond –– which just about every one of the at least 200 in attendance likely was at Tuesday’s predator management forum in Medford –– change is only going to happen through pressure on elected officials who have the ability to make that change. That was the main message drilled into those in attendance at the forum, which was held at the Simek Recreation Center through the cooperation of the Taylor…
MORE
MEDFORD, Wis. (WAOW) By Sabrina Lee Dozens gathered in Medford to discuss the predatory impact on hunting in Wisconsin, with the grey wolf population taking center stage. Since their reintroduction to areas in Yellowstone and Idaho nearly 30 years ago, there are an estimated 950 to over a thousand wolves in the Badger state. That's up from 248 in the year 2000. The grey wolf is currently listed as an endangered species in Wisconsin, which means they may only be killed in defense of human life. Hunter Nation, who organized the forum, said population has to be managed. “We are…
MORE
On Friday, May 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (CT), the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold an oversight field hearing titled “How Many Wolves Are Enough? Examining the Need to Delist the Gray Wolf.” This hearing will be focused on the impacts of an unmanaged gray wolf population on local communities. Specifically, the subcommittee will hear from impacted stakeholders from the agriculture community, sportsman, local elected officials, and wildlife biologists. Witnesses and Testimony The Honorable Steve Green – State Senator – Minnesota State Senate – St. Paul, Minnesota Mr. John Williams – Wolf Committee Co-Chair – Oregon Cattleman’s…
MORE
By Benjamin Yount | The Center Square – A Northwoods’ congressman says he has the science on his side in the debate over what to do about the gray wolf. Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany got his plan to take the gray wolf off the endangered species list through the House. It was a close vote, just 209 to 205, and the plan faces a dim future in the U.S. Senate. Still, Tiffany said there’s more than enough evidence that the gray wolf population is large enough to remove it from the protected list. “The science is clear; the gray wolf…
MORE
May 1, H.R. 764 to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act passed the House. This is a BIG WIN for Wisconsin hunters, pet owners, and farmers. Thank you, @HunterNation , for all the support. Rep. Tom Tiffany@RepTiffany
Mission, KS – Hunter Nation applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for its bipartisan effort in passing Congressman Tom Tiffany’s (WI-07) and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's (CO-03) legislation to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. The “Trust the Science Act (H.R. 764),“ removes the gray wolf from the list of endangered species and prevents judicial review of the delisting. This bill gives each state and the state wildlife agencies the ability to manage the gray wolf population as they currently manage all wildlife within its state’s border.
by The Associated Press Thu, April 4th 2024 DENVER — A wolf has killed a calf in Colorado, wildlife officials said Wednesday, confirming the first livestock kill after 10 of the predators were controversially reintroduced in December to the aggrievement of the state's rural residents. Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed after an investigation that the wounds of the calf killed Tuesday, and nearby wolf tracks, were consistent with a wolf kill, what they refer to as a “depredation.” “The field investigation found multiple tooth rake marks on the calf’s hindquarters and neck, and hemorrhaging under the hide, consistent with wolf depredation,” Jeromy…
MORE
By Courtney Flatt (Northwest News Network) Some ranchers are saying it is time to find creative ways to deal with wolf attacks on livestock. That’s what a new bill in the Washington state Senate hopes to do — to the frustration of some wildlife rights groups. A big goal of Senate Bill 5939 is to lethally remove wolves that chronically attack livestock. Right now, ranchers say, current methods — with all the paperwork and decisions — are like disciplining your pet, days later. The wolves don’t understand why they are being targeted. “I think if people listen to what’s being proposed, they…
MORE
On Friday, March 31st, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vetoed 41 bills which had been passed by the state’s legislature. Among the vetoed bills was Senate Bill, SB139, which would have set a target population goal for the gray wolf which would have helped manage the state’s out-of- control and currently unmanaged wolf population. The veto was immediately condemned by Wisconsin hunters, farmers and residents in the areas most impacted by the increasing wolf population, and around the nation by groups who see the move as purely political.
Wisconsin Public Radio – By Danielle Kaeding Supporters of the bill say it's necessary to keep the wolf population in check Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed a Republican bill that would have ordered state wildlife regulators to set a statewide population goal for wolves. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond, and Rep. Chanz Green, R-Grand View, after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources nixed a population goal in an update of its wolf management plan. In his veto message, Evers said he was vetoing the bill because he objected to a numeric goal for wolves. He also…
MORE
Field and Stream by Travis Hall Back in December, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) released five gray wolves on public land west of Denver. The widely-publicized release took place amid heavy opposition from hunters and conservation groups because it had been mandated by a narrowly-passed ballot initiative four years earlier. Now, Colorado’s voting public is on the cusp of considering yet another controversial wildlife-related ballot referendum. The ballot initiative that led to December’s wolf release, known as Proposition 114, was a shining example of what conservation-minded hunters often decry as “ballot box biology.” It put a critical wildlife management decision—something typically hashed out through…
MORE
Nevada Current – By Jeniffer Solis State wildlife managers reported a possible wolf pack sighting in Nevada for the first time in over 100 years on Wednesday. Last week, a helicopter crew conducting an aerial moose survey spotted three suspected wolves traveling together in northeast Nevada near Merritt Mountain, north of Elko. State wildlife biologists are now working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to confirm the sighting of one of Nevada’s most iconic native carnivores. “The Nevada Department of Wildlife observed three suspected wolves, but we have not officially confirmed the sighting yet. We continue to investigate to…
MORE
Fox News By Thomas Catenacci House Republicans are urging the Biden administration to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act, pointing to conflicts with ranchers and farmers, along with the species' growing population. As the species is delisted from the endangered list in several states, farmers fear increased livestock predation and call for stricter management strategies. GOP lawmakers propose legislation to either fully delist the gray wolf or grant states more control over their management. Farmers argue that the growing wolf population poses a significant threat to their farms and ranches.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has released its 2023 figures for that season's deer hunt harvest, the state's estimated wolf population and depredation payments, illustrating the complex trends central to the politics of regulating a controversial and charismatic animal. By Nathan Denzin | Here & Now (PBS Wisconsin) Deer hunting comes up a lot when people talk about wolves in Wisconsin. The harvest numbers for the 2023 gun season showing an annual dip in the number of deer taken home are likely to feed more conversations. Only about 295,000 deer were harvested in Wisconsin in 2023, representing a more than 50%…
MORE
CNN's Lucy Kafanov reports.– Packs of gray wolves are once again roaming the Colorado Rockies after the state approved the first-ever voter mandated reintroduction of wolves. While urban voters and environmental advocates applaud the move, some ranchers are worried about the apex predator's potential impact on livestock and livelihoods.
The Denver Post By Elise Schmelzer One wolf’s collar is no longer working, wildlife officials said. Colorado’s reintroduced wolves continue to roam widely across the state in the last month, though wildlife officials who released a tracking map said the geolocating collar for one of the canines was no longer working. The 12 wolves known to live in Colorado, including 10 released in December, spent time in a large swath of the state, according to a new map of wolf activity released Wednesday by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Here's where Colorado's new wolves roamed in March as they expanded their territory
by TOM AIZENBERG | KRNV EL DORADO COUNTY, Ca. — One man is dead after being attacked by a mountain lion in Georgetown, California on Saturday afternoon. On March 23 at approximately 1:15 p.m., the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) received a 911 call from an 18-year-old who reported that a mountain lion near the remote area of Darling Ridge Road and Skid Road in Georgetown attacked him and his 21-year-old brother. The caller suffered traumatic injuries to his face and was separated from his brother during the attack. EDSO deputies and paramedics arrived at 1:34 p.m. and began…
MORE
Fox News by Thomas Catenacci Releasing the apex predator into the region will improve ‘social tolerance' of the species, the Biden administration said. Wildlife expert Tom Nelson weighs in on the Biden administration's reported plan to release grizzly bears in a federally-managed forest area near communities in Washington on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime. We're prioritizing apex predators over elk and deer: Tom Nelson Washington cattle producer Neil Kayser: Grizzly bear relocation is a danger to our families and livestock Washington cattle producer Neil Kayser discusses the Biden administration's aims to relocate the bears to the state on ‘The Ingraham Angle.'
St. Paul, Minn. (Northern News Now) – By Madisan Green The conversation about wolves and deer in the Northland continues in the Minnesota Capitol. Rep. Roger Skraba (R, Ely) Said: “It’s time to delist it and start putting pressure on the people that make a federal decision” “Bear management, wolf management, timber management, look at all of them and see how they work to bring more deer onto the landscape”
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS By KAYE THORNBRUGH daho’s grizzly bear population tops out at about 200, depending on the time of year, with the largest concentration of grizzlies existing in the Panhandle and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. https://cdapress.com/news/2024/mar/21/idaho-wolf-trapping-cut-over-threat-to-grizzlies/
White Mountain Independent – By Peter Aleshire Mexican Gray Wolves saw a 24% increase in 2022 and a 6% increase in 2023 putting the number in AZ/NM at 257 total. Ranchers say reimbursement programs don’t cover their losses. They maintain that even the presence of the wolves affects how much weight cattle gain.
Montana Outdoor – Moosetrack Megan A March 19, 2024 federal court decision will change wolf trapping seasons in some regions of Idaho based on their alleged potential effect on grizzly bears. “We’re very disappointed in this decision,” Fish and Game Director Jim Fredericks said. “While wolf trapping seasons will change to comply with the order, we’re considering our legal options to reverse a decision we believe is wrong based on the law and on-the-ground reality.” The ruling perpetuates misunderstandings about wolves, grizzly bears and trapping in Idaho, Fredericks added. “Idaho has had wolf trapping seasons for over 10 years. We’ve…
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FarmProgress – by Olivia Sip Wolf population protection and livestock production create a tricky balance. A top priority for the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association is advocating for the delisting of the gray wolf. Kaitlyn Root, executive director of the MSCA, says, “There are over 2,900 wolves in the state of Minnesota, and we have producers that struggle losing calves to wolves, which is a really big deal.”MN has the largest Gray Wolf population the 48 contiguous states, and that is a problem for cattle producers in the wolf habitat areas –
Hunter Nation President Keith Mark, in a recent PBS documentary, discusses the conservative hunting advocacy group's perspective on how the economics of game management plays a role in wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation. By Nathan Denzin | Here & Now (PBS Wisconsin) Keith Mark: Sometimes I wonder if these anti-hunting groups really care about wildlife, like they say, 'cause they sure don't put their money where their mouth is. You can look at the Pittman-Robertson Act and see how much money that the American hunter pours into conservation on an annual basis. Billions of hunter dollars go to fund your Wisconsin DNR,…
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Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Brad Olson describes concerns about the state's 2023 wolf management plan related to how a growing population of the predator impacts ranching and hunting. By Nathan Denzin | PBS Wisconsin (Here & Now) Brad Olson: I think the biggest fact is is that that wolves, they're just predatory. So they take what's there, they take what's available and in one case in central Wisconsin, they came in in a night and wiped out the entire herd of sheep. That's years and years of work by that individual farmer, it's the emotional stress of something like that, losing…
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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife species section supervisor Sam Jonas describes the legal requirements and population objectives shaping the state's 2023 plan to manage wolves. By Nathan Denzin | Here & Now (PBS Wisconsin) Sam Jonas: I would say, you know, the overarching result of the 2023 wolf management plan is that it strives for a sustainable and healthy wolf population in the state of Wisconsin, and that's the real goal of the plan itself. In regards to protections, you know, wolves are federally protected currently and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife sort of manages restrictions, what the states can or…
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By Bill Bartlett | The Nugget Long Hollow Ranch sits on 12,000 acres across two counties. Its main entrance is on Holmes Road in the heart of Sisters Country. The most visible part of the operation is its wedding and event venue but behind the bucolic setting are cows. Hundreds of them. The ranch also sits on an AKWA (Area of Known Wolf Activity). Long Hollow is claiming the loss of seven cows to wolves beginning in February of 2023 with the most recent loss last year between May and July when two calves went missing. One of the five…
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Mountain Journal by David Tucker The Gray Wolf and a Dogged Pursuit A COALITION OF WESTERN ENVIRONMENTALISTS SEEKS RENEWED ENDANGERED SPECIES STATUS FOR WESTERN GRAY WOLVES The US Fish and Wildlife Service decided that placing the Western Gray Wolf back on the endangered species list was “not warranted.” Now, the Western Environmental Law Center says it intends to sue
By Brandon Ferdig | Star Tribune – Attendees fill Morrill Hall on Dec. 18, with State Rep. Isaac Schultz (left) and Steve Porter at the front. Look plainly at the wolf issue, and we can see the source of the conflict: 1. Wolves are revered. 2. Wolves can cause serious harm. This animal whose howl at the moon elicits within us spine-tingling wonder is the same one that would latch its jaws onto your dog. It's hard managing something beloved yet potentially harmful, especially when those at odds also belong to opposing demographics. But now let's turn the volume way…
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Colorado Times Recorder – by Brodie Farquhar STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – About 100 ranchers from northwest Colorado gathered Wednesday evening to hear Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) and Wildlife Services personnel present information about the reintroduction of grey wolves into western Colorado. Officials answered questions about how to prevent wolf depredations on livestock, as well as how the state will compensate ranchers for losses. Carhart overalls, cowboy hats, and wildlife officer uniforms filled a meeting room at the Steamboat Community Center. Wildlife managers Justin Pollock and Kyle Bond outlined options for ranchers affected by wolf depredation against livestock (cattle, horses, mules,…
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By Nathan Denzin | Here & Now | PBS Wisconsin Indigenous communities, farmers, hunters and Wisconsinites of all stripes express strong feelings about wolves as their numbers grow in the state and a new management plan for the species is unveiled. Bring up wolves to a Wisconsinite, and you’ll likely get a passionate response. “They’re going to allow an unchecked, unmanaged wolf population to continue to wreak havoc,” said Keith Mark. “The more you put wolves in close contact, in proximity with people, the greater the chances are of something truly catastrophic happening,” said Brad Olson. “I’m here today to talk about my…
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The Fence Post | Arkansas Valley Cattlewomen The Arkansas Valley Cattlewomen are vehemently opposed to the reintroduction of wolves into Colorado under all circumstances. The recent reintroduction of wolves into Grand County by Colorado Parks and Wildlife was deceitful, irresponsible and negligent due to the fact that they lied to Coloradans about the history of the pack from which these wolves originated. These wolves that were introduced were from known deprecating packs of which other members of the pack were destroyed because of their livestock kills. Wolves are not extinct and have thrived in refuges where they are safe and…
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Trevor Ballantyne | Steamboat Pilot Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves onto public land in Grand County on Dec. 18. Since then, the wildlife agency has not received any reports of the wolves attacking livestock in Colorado, but the ranching community remains concerned over how to mitigate conflicts with the animals. Colorado Parks and Wildlife/Courtesy photo Colorado Parks and Wildlife hosted a meeting with area livestock producers Wednesday to answer questions and listen to concerns over the state’s wolf reintroduction effort. Packed into a room at the Steamboat Springs Community Center, ranchers heard from CPW staff about how…
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Wyoming Public Radio | By Melodie Edwards A recent decision to reintroduce wolves has created division between rural and urban Coloradoans. But wolves have actually been there a while. A few years ago, a couple migrated down from Wyoming to settle in the mountain valley of North Park, southwest of Laramie. It’s given the ranchers there a headstart on adjusting to a new reality. As soon as I climbed out of the car, longtime North Parker Gayle Woodsum pointed out a coyote jogging away from her animal rescue ranch. “Oh, there's one right there now,” she said, pointing. “Oh, yeah,” I…
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By: Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner A former Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warden who served on the agency’s committee to create a new wolf management plan for the state is under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for killing a wolf in his yard in December. He has claimed self-defense, but he posted on Facebook in November that he was baiting the animals with doughnuts and rice crispy cereal. The warden, Patrick Quaintance, also sits on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress where he holds positions on the body’s fur harvest and bear committees. The conservation congress serves…
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By Mark Heinz | Cowboy State Daily Some of Colorado’s wolves have been pushing north, toward the Wyoming state line. It's likely just a matter of weeks before some cross over into Wyoming, where they can be shot on sight. There’s no telling when wolves from Colorado will cross the state line into Wyoming. But it’s bound to happen, and it could happen soon, a wolf watcher said. “If I had a crystal ball, what do I think? I think that sometime within the next four to six weeks, we’ll have one cross, or maybe a couple cross over,” Colorado resident…
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By Ashlee Manalang | Earth.org Controversial legislative actions and management strategies threaten the progress made in wolf recovery efforts. Despite federal wildlife authorities declining pleas to reinstate safeguards for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies, conservation groups continue to advocate for their protection. In recent decades, there has been a paradigm shift in attitudes toward wolves, largely due to a better understanding of their ecological importance. Wolves are now recognized as apex predators. As such, they contribute to controlling the populations of prey species and ensuring the overall balance and health of the ecosystem. However, it will be hard to…
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Clay Newcomb ventures to southeast Alaska in search of wolves and Sitka blacktail deer with his friend and outfitter, David Benitz. Traveling aboard sea boat and skiff, Clay shadows David along his expansive traplines across the vast coastal Alaskan beaches. David shares his art for trapping along with his love and appreciation for the wolf and desire to manage them as a natural renewable resource. After discovering a few empty sets, they change their attention towards blacktail deer. But finding deer in country that's riddled with predators proves difficult. In the end, persistence pays off with multiple successful sets and…
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Colorado Trappers & Predator Hunters Association Rallying call to Preserve our Wilderness Heritage: Colorado At the Forefront – SaveTheHuntColorado.com In recent years, Colorado has become the battleground for a movement threatening not just the hunting tradition, but the very essence of wildlife management. This is not merely a local issue; it’s a ripple that could stir waves across all states. The assault on Colorado’s hunting community and wildlife managers is a precursor to what sportsmen across America might face. Over the last 5 years, relentless attempts have been made to undermine the regulated harvest of Colorado Mountain Lions and Bobcats. The onslaught…
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USFWS – Federal Register – A Proposed Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 02/07/2024 We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a finding on the gray wolf ( Canis lupus) in the Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM) and in the Western United States. After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial data, we find that gray wolves within the NRM area do not, on their own, represent a valid listable entity; therefore, the NRM is not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the gray…
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Hunter Nation denounces the Biden administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for their decision to make no change to the gray wolf’s status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced their decision to make no change in the wolf’s status, at least until September 2025, they stated their decision was based, in part, by the fact that the debate over the management of wolves has included more than two decades of litigation where courts have invalidated five out of six rules finalized by the USFWS on the gray wolf status. Hunter…
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Field & Stream BY TRAVIS HALL The controversial plan was mandated by a narrowly-passed ballot initiative back in 2020. On Monday, December 9, Colorado wildlife officials uncrated five gray wolves on a tract of public land west of Denver. The wolves were captured in Oregon earlier this winter. Their release is part of an ongoing effort to re-stock the species into its historic range in select parts of the Centennial State. he five wolves were the first of anywhere from 30 to 50 that will be released in Colorado over the next 3 to 5 years, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW)…
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USFWS – Federal Register – A Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 11/08/2023 We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), establish a nonessential experimental population (NEP) of the gray wolf ( Canis lupus) in the State of Colorado, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The State of Colorado (Colorado Parks and Wildlife or CPW) requested that the Service establish an NEP in conjunction with their State-led gray wolf reintroduction effort. Establishment of this NEP provides for allowable, legal, purposeful, and incidental taking of the gray wolf within a defined NEP area while concurrently providing for the conservation…
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Hunter Nation, is celebrating the efforts of Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Tom Tiffany (R-WI) for their wildlife management legislation, H.R. 764, known as, the “Trust The Science Act”. The legislation mandates the delisting of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This delisting would effectively return the management of the gray wolf to state lawmakers and state wildlife officials. The legislation would also prevent judicial review of the legislative action. The bill passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee last week and demonstrates that science can trump politics on this critical conservation issue. Keith Mark, Hunter…
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