Should We Have a Wolf Hunt, and if so, How Should We Regulate it?
Background:
Over the last few years wolves have been native to Wisconsin, in 1960 the wolves were driven out of Wisconsin and declared extirpated. Wolves left Wisconsin due to habitat loss, decline in prey population, and unregulated harvest. Wolves were put in the Endangered Species Act in 1973 which was designed to protect species that were critically endangered, this gave the wolves significant protection.
The federal government realized the importance of the gray wolf and included them on the endangered species list. From mid to late 1970s the wolf population increased in Minnesota which then affected northwest Wisconsin and the gray wolves have returned back to Wisconsin. With that the first breeding pack was confirmed in Douglas County in 1978.
In 1980 there were 25 wolves in 5 packs, but in 1985 a parvovirus was going around and reduced the survival rate down for pups and adults. In 1990’s the wolf population grew rapidly, by 1999 the DNR completed a new management plan. The plan set a delisting goal of 250 wolves in late winter outside of Indian reservations. But also in 1999 the gray wolves were reclassified to the state as a threatened status with 205 wolves in the state.
In 2004 the wolves were removed from the state’s threatened species list and put under protected wild animals with 373 wolves. After many delisting attempts on January 27, 2012 the wolves were officially delisted federally. But after 2 years in 2014 the federal court decided to relist the gray wolf as an endangered animal.
Controversy and Key Players:
All over the world hunting is a controversial topic since it has contributed to the extinction of many animals and there are many viewpoints to consider. Wisconsin is one of those places where hunting has led to near extinction with the gray wolf. In the past few years there has been debate whether or not there should be a wolf hunt. Wolf hunting has many pros and cons which makes this debate so hard to figure out.
Pro to the Wolf hunt:
Con to the Wolf Hunt:
Wisconsin tribes, wolf advocates, and conservationists can come to an agreement with the DNR for failing to properly manage the wolf hunt season. However, with such a controversial topic like wolf hunting, having multiple different perspectives is bound to happen. First off, we have the thoughts and beliefs of farmers/landowners. Wolves tend to travel upon the land and attack cattle which causes this conflict. Some Wisconsin landowners and farmers are seeking to resolve conflicts by killing wolves on their property.
Conservationists argue that wolves have the right to exist in their native territories. This is a reasonable position that should be valued and considered but not justified to ban wolf hunting completely just yet. We are all well aware that wolves will never return to their original numbers seen in the 1960s but this does not mean there shouldn’t be regulations and stricter guidelines in place.
On the contrary side we have the wolf hunters perspective on this topic. No one can deny that wolf hunting has become part of Northern Wisconsin's lifestyle and culture. It would be wrong to completely ban something that’s become a part of a culture. But, once more there has to be regulations on the hunt in order for all sides and key players to mutually agree. For example having to report your hunt immediately.
Solutions:
There is no official solution to this issue that pleases everyone involved. There are different beliefs on wolf hunting in Wisconsin including some people wanting there to be a hunt and some people wanting it to be banned or illegal. In order to fix this controversy there needs to be compromises made between different viewpoints. Having different opinions and plans to protect wolves makes it hard to find a real solution. There are many differing views to this issue. For example, conservationists and hunters have completely different opinions which affect the issue.
We believe there should be a more regulated wolf hunt because it wouldn’t be fair to remove it completely from Northern Wisconsin's community since it has become a lifestyle. However, with that being said we should have stricter wolf hunting policies and guidelines since wolves are listed as federally endangered in Wisconsin. One policy that can be enforced is having better management on wolves and hunting them. Even though the wolf population remains healthy and secure in Wisconsin there are still many things that can be done to help this stay steady. This includes reporting hunts immediately to ensure no one kills too many wolves, the DNR continuing to robust wolf population monitoring programs, and the development of an updated wolf management plan. The new Wolf Management Plan will help solve problems that have been reoccurring from the past several years.
Over the last few years wolves have been native to Wisconsin, in 1960 the wolves were driven out of Wisconsin and declared extirpated. Wolves left Wisconsin due to habitat loss, decline in prey population, and unregulated harvest. Wolves were put in the Endangered Species Act in 1973 which was designed to protect species that were critically endangered, this gave the wolves significant protection.
The federal government realized the importance of the gray wolf and included them on the endangered species list. From mid to late 1970s the wolf population increased in Minnesota which then affected northwest Wisconsin and the gray wolves have returned back to Wisconsin. With that the first breeding pack was confirmed in Douglas County in 1978.
In 1980 there were 25 wolves in 5 packs, but in 1985 a parvovirus was going around and reduced the survival rate down for pups and adults. In 1990’s the wolf population grew rapidly, by 1999 the DNR completed a new management plan. The plan set a delisting goal of 250 wolves in late winter outside of Indian reservations. But also in 1999 the gray wolves were reclassified to the state as a threatened status with 205 wolves in the state.
In 2004 the wolves were removed from the state’s threatened species list and put under protected wild animals with 373 wolves. After many delisting attempts on January 27, 2012 the wolves were officially delisted federally. But after 2 years in 2014 the federal court decided to relist the gray wolf as an endangered animal.
Controversy and Key Players:
All over the world hunting is a controversial topic since it has contributed to the extinction of many animals and there are many viewpoints to consider. Wisconsin is one of those places where hunting has led to near extinction with the gray wolf. In the past few years there has been debate whether or not there should be a wolf hunt. Wolf hunting has many pros and cons which makes this debate so hard to figure out.
Pro to the Wolf hunt:
- Over increase in wolf population: When left unchecked wolf populations grow rapidly. This is especially true in areas where there are lots of animals for them to eat. This severely impacts other animals which could lead to potential decrease in their population for example: if there are too many wolves the rabbit population will decrease since there are more wolves hunting them.
Con to the Wolf Hunt:
- Wolves are Endangered Species: Recently, Wisconsin has been doing well at having a stable number for the wolf population (between 812 and 1,193). However, just because Wisconsin is okay now does not mean it will always be okay. We have seen it in Wisconsin’s history where there were sudden decreases in their population due to over-hunting.
Wisconsin tribes, wolf advocates, and conservationists can come to an agreement with the DNR for failing to properly manage the wolf hunt season. However, with such a controversial topic like wolf hunting, having multiple different perspectives is bound to happen. First off, we have the thoughts and beliefs of farmers/landowners. Wolves tend to travel upon the land and attack cattle which causes this conflict. Some Wisconsin landowners and farmers are seeking to resolve conflicts by killing wolves on their property.
Conservationists argue that wolves have the right to exist in their native territories. This is a reasonable position that should be valued and considered but not justified to ban wolf hunting completely just yet. We are all well aware that wolves will never return to their original numbers seen in the 1960s but this does not mean there shouldn’t be regulations and stricter guidelines in place.
On the contrary side we have the wolf hunters perspective on this topic. No one can deny that wolf hunting has become part of Northern Wisconsin's lifestyle and culture. It would be wrong to completely ban something that’s become a part of a culture. But, once more there has to be regulations on the hunt in order for all sides and key players to mutually agree. For example having to report your hunt immediately.
Solutions:
There is no official solution to this issue that pleases everyone involved. There are different beliefs on wolf hunting in Wisconsin including some people wanting there to be a hunt and some people wanting it to be banned or illegal. In order to fix this controversy there needs to be compromises made between different viewpoints. Having different opinions and plans to protect wolves makes it hard to find a real solution. There are many differing views to this issue. For example, conservationists and hunters have completely different opinions which affect the issue.
We believe there should be a more regulated wolf hunt because it wouldn’t be fair to remove it completely from Northern Wisconsin's community since it has become a lifestyle. However, with that being said we should have stricter wolf hunting policies and guidelines since wolves are listed as federally endangered in Wisconsin. One policy that can be enforced is having better management on wolves and hunting them. Even though the wolf population remains healthy and secure in Wisconsin there are still many things that can be done to help this stay steady. This includes reporting hunts immediately to ensure no one kills too many wolves, the DNR continuing to robust wolf population monitoring programs, and the development of an updated wolf management plan. The new Wolf Management Plan will help solve problems that have been reoccurring from the past several years.
Sources:
Cramer, Maria. “Wisconsin Hunters Kill Over 200 Wolves in Less Than 3 Days.” The New York Times, 3 Mar. 2021. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/us/wisconsin-wolves-killings.html.
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC)
https://www.glifwc.org/Recognition_Affirmation/ Accessed 21 Mar. 2023
“Lessons from Wisconsin’s Controversial Wolf Hunt.” Star Tribune, https://www.startribune.com/lessons-from-wisconsin-s-controversial-wolf-hunt/600031216/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.
“Opinions Vary Dramatically, Including among Scientists on Wisconsin’s Proposed Wolf Management Plan.” WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee’s NPR, 27 Feb. 2023, https://www.wuwm.com/2023-02-27/opinions-vary-dramatically-including-among-scientists-on-wisconsins-proposed-wolf-management-plan.
Smith, Paul A. “Wolf Hunting Season Begins with Kill Quota of 119 after Tribes Declare 50% of Harvest in Ceded Territory.” Journal Sentinel, https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2021/02/22/state-licensed-hunters-can-kill-119-wolves-wisconsin-february-hunt/4543149001/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.
“Wisconsin DNR Says Proposed Plan Protects Wolf Population & Balances Diverse Public Interest, Public Reacts.” WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee’s NPR, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.wuwm.com/2023-02-10/wisconsin-dnr-says-proposed-plan-protects-wolf-population-balances-diverse-public-interest-public-reacts.
Wolves in Wisconsin | | Wisconsin DNR. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wolf/index.htm. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
Kaeding, Danielle. “With The Wolf Delisted, Farmers And Landowners Are Taking Steps To Remove Problem Wolves.” Wisconsin Public Radio, 2 Apr. 2021, https://www.wpr.org/wolf-delisted-farmers-and-landowners-are-taking-steps-remove-problem-wolves.
Wisconsin’s History of the Wolf Hunt | Midwest Environmental Advocates. https://midwestadvocates.org/wisconsin-wolf-hunt
Cramer, Maria. “Wisconsin Hunters Kill Over 200 Wolves in Less Than 3 Days.” The New York Times, 3 Mar. 2021. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/us/wisconsin-wolves-killings.html.
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC)
https://www.glifwc.org/Recognition_Affirmation/ Accessed 21 Mar. 2023
“Lessons from Wisconsin’s Controversial Wolf Hunt.” Star Tribune, https://www.startribune.com/lessons-from-wisconsin-s-controversial-wolf-hunt/600031216/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.
“Opinions Vary Dramatically, Including among Scientists on Wisconsin’s Proposed Wolf Management Plan.” WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee’s NPR, 27 Feb. 2023, https://www.wuwm.com/2023-02-27/opinions-vary-dramatically-including-among-scientists-on-wisconsins-proposed-wolf-management-plan.
Smith, Paul A. “Wolf Hunting Season Begins with Kill Quota of 119 after Tribes Declare 50% of Harvest in Ceded Territory.” Journal Sentinel, https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2021/02/22/state-licensed-hunters-can-kill-119-wolves-wisconsin-february-hunt/4543149001/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.
“Wisconsin DNR Says Proposed Plan Protects Wolf Population & Balances Diverse Public Interest, Public Reacts.” WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee’s NPR, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.wuwm.com/2023-02-10/wisconsin-dnr-says-proposed-plan-protects-wolf-population-balances-diverse-public-interest-public-reacts.
Wolves in Wisconsin | | Wisconsin DNR. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wolf/index.htm. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
Kaeding, Danielle. “With The Wolf Delisted, Farmers And Landowners Are Taking Steps To Remove Problem Wolves.” Wisconsin Public Radio, 2 Apr. 2021, https://www.wpr.org/wolf-delisted-farmers-and-landowners-are-taking-steps-remove-problem-wolves.
Wisconsin’s History of the Wolf Hunt | Midwest Environmental Advocates. https://midwestadvocates.org/wisconsin-wolf-hunt