Wolves- For or against?

Dear Sportsmen and Women:

As many of you know, flaws in the Endangered Species Act make it almost impossible to remove species from the list and return their management to the individual states once their populations have met recovery goals. No other species besides the Gray Wolf is a better example of this. In Minnesota, this is especially true, with wolves having been at their targeted population levels since the 1970’s. The population of Wolves in MN is greater than the rest of the lower 48 states combined!

There is a critical bill in the house, H.R. 1819, sponsored by Representative Candice Miller and Cosponsored by Minnesota’s own Rep. John Kline to remove wolves from listing under the Endangered Species Act and return wolves to state management. In its original form, this bill would fully remove the Gray Wolf, and all it’s subspecies, from the ESA and place its management in the hands of individual states. Unfortunately, new wolf language that has been included in the new interior appropriations bill has been weakened and fails to address important aspects of wolf delisting for Minnesota. The committee meeting to finalize the language of this bill is on July 12, 2011. We strongly support the inclusion of new language in this appropriations bill while also encouraging that it be amended in committee to provide for full delisting of all wolves in Minnesota, it’s going to take your support, through emails sent and calls made in the next three days.

We tend to think that as individuals we can’t influence public policy, but nothing is farther from the truth. While many of us complain about our elected officials, very few of us actually contact them. When gauging public opinion on issues, the standard formula is that each phone call received represents 10,000 voters and it takes as few as 2,000 emails received on a single issue in a week to make that issue the number one issue for that official’s office.

So what do you need to do?

Congress is justifiably preoccupied with the budget right now. But, we need to make sure this issue doesn’t fall through the cracks.

The Congressman in charge of the committee that will finalize the language of this bill is Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho (T: 202-225-5531 F: 202-225-8216). We need each of you to contact Congressman Simpson’s office and let him know that:

I support the passage of immediate delisting of all wolves in Minnesota such as represented by H.R. 1819 in its original form. I strongly oppose any efforts that would: (1) delist only portions of the United States wolf population; (2) leave the door open to ongoing legal challenges by anti-grazing and anti-hunting groups that could further delay needed wolf control activities; (3) delist only some wolf populations within a state (such as Canis Lupus), while leaving endangered species act control over other wolf populations (such as Canis Lycaon); or (4) that would otherwise undermine the authority of state fish and game agencies to manage wolves or other wildlife populations.

This same message needs to be given to all of Minnesota’s Representatives and Senators.

If you want to email your Representative and Senators quickly and easily, you can go the Big Game Forever website and do so. Simply click on this link, http://capwiz.com/biggameforever/home/, then enter your zip code. You will then have the option to email all of your Representative and Senators at the same time. Feel free to cut and paste, or you can write your own. Just make sure you reference bill H.R. 1819.

Better yet, pick up the phone and call. Make your voice the voice of 10,000 voters.

Senator Amy Klobuchar: (612) 727-5220/ (202) 224-3244
Senator Al Franken: (651) 221-1016/ (202) 224-5641
Rep. Tim Waltz: (507) 388-2149/ (202) 225-2472
Rep. John Kline: (952) 808-1213/ (202) 225-2271
Rep. Erik Paulsen: (952) 405-8510/ (202) 225-2871
Rep. Betty McCollum: (651) 224-9191/ (202) 225-6631
Rep. Keith Ellison: (612) 522-1212/ (202) 225-4755
Rep. Michele Bachmann: (651) 731-5400/ (202) 225-2331
Rep. Collin Peterson: (218) 847-5056/ (202) 225-2165
Rep. Chip Cravaack: (651) 237-8220/ (202) 225-6211

The squeaky wheel truly does get the grease. And sportsmen have been the silent majority, much to our detriment, for too long. So please, take a couple of minutes in the next few days and make your voice heard!

Regards,

Peter Hunt Mark Johnson
President, MN SCI Executive Director, MN Deer Hunters Association

Don McMillian Ryan Benson
President, MN Outdoor Heritage Alliance Big Game Forever

The above letter is posted for MOHA ” target=”_blank”>http://www.mohahuntfish.org/

And here I thought this was going to be about the basketball team….

I guess we could have a season for each, oh wait we have been waiting for the basketball team to have a season.

This state has proven it cannot manage much. No way do I want these animals “managed ” by any entity from or in this state.

Would you prefer the federal Govt???

Wyoming has only 340 wolves and is getting them delisted fron the endandered species list… Wyoming Delisting efforts

The endangered species label was reinstated by anti hunting/wolf lover groups… The little UP of Mich has over 1,500 wolves, according to the MDNR. There have been several pets, domestic and farm animals eaten alive by Wolves the past decade. Two children were killed and partially eaten but DNA tests on the wolves (which were shot by the police) supported that the animals had some canine DNA, suggesting a wolf/dog hybrid…
The original pack of wolves were relocated here from Canada by private individuals, supported by the Timber Wolf Alliance (New York, NY)…
Timber Wolf Alliance

They have strong financial backing through the “anti” groups and some noted Hollywood types…

I simply think that there are too many people who blame wolves for problems totally un-related to them.

We have property up north. We have wolves on the land along with moose, deer by the dozens, bear. We don’t see any issues caused by wolves. At that land we know of three different packs that follow historic hunting trails, all quite close to our property in fact one such trail crosses our land. If the animals were as sinister as some claim we’d see evidence of such up there. We don’t see it.

The legislators we have working in this state [ or should I say who should be/ should have been] have bigger fish to chew right now. I don’t care what is happening in Wyoming or Idaho. Those states probably haven’t got idiots working as legislators like we do. Our state lawmakers don’t need a distraction.

Leave the wolves alone whats next kill all the bears mountain loins bobcats mink coon everything kills to live even us

We all need a boogieman or scapegoat.

Save the walleyes…they all should be protected…walleye cheeks should be banned

On a serious note,I would support delisting the gray wolf.
If you have ever been to a DNR roud table about this subject, it is a hotly contested issue.
You would be amazed at what is said, and who comes out of the wood work on this, Pro and Con.
The Sierra Club is a very difficult organiztion to overcome.

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I simply think that there are too many people who blame wolves for problems totally un-related to them.

Leave the wolves alone whats next kill all the bears mountain loins bobcats mink coon everything kills to live even us

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OK, so lets say the wolves are not the nuisance some say they are. The one thing I think we can all agree on, they have made an outstanding rebound. Better than what was even predicted. As long as there are large numbers and healthy packs, why not offer some permits. There are a ton of guys that will stand in line for one!
We do shoot bears, cats, and trap varmints and they still are in check.

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Our state lawmakers don’t need a distraction.

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True

But some new revenue might get the rest areas opened back up

Just another point of view, don’t bite my head off Tom

I agree with Bret and I also think then you manage them on a state level. Obviously some states have more wolves than others.

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don’t bite my head off Tom

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Bite? I’d have to gnaw. Or Or But bite? I don’t think so.

Let the elected idiots do what they’re supposed to do and then try to figure out something that will satisfy both sides of this fence next session. I’m not entirely pro-wolf, but I have gotten almost entirely anti-politician.

What scares me about anything dealing with wolves in this state is the terrible way the dnr seems to manage deer. I honestly think if the areas where the deer herd is suffering and maybe precipitating this new wolf movement were managed better, the deer would rebound. I’d hate to see the wolves go down the same trail. I don’t care about the deer. They come, they go.

Have a good one Bret.

My opinion is NW Wisc needs less wolves and bear.

AGAINST….all I have to say on that. Now I am headed to have a few stiff drinks and try to solve the rest of societies problems

I think there’s too many people, not wolves, lets have a season on them…..

If they’re bothering/threatening you or your family, or livestock and or pets, shoot them, otherwise leave them a lone….maybe…I think…not real sure on this one.

Al

As every state clearly feels it is responsible to manage big game animals it is equally irresponsible to continue mis-management of the gray wolf. One might scoff at our wolf pack numbers estimate. If the overall numbers are what they esitmate………Then my friends and I up here in the wolf region have literally seen most all of them!! LOL!! A wolf sighting is far more common than a moose sighting?? STRANGE?? I know of no state DNR management team that feels wolves should still be under the careful guard of our federal government. Leave it to the Feds to become out of contact with reality. Wolves hopefully will once again fall under the eye of state management departments. Upon the reigns being passed back to the state DNR I am confident we can exercise common sense when it comes to MANAGING our wolf packs.

For all those who feel we should continue to place the Gray wolf on a pedestal I’m very interested on your viewpoint on our disturbing decline of the states moose population?? OK……Yes BRAIN DISEASE right?? I would guess a blind eye will be placed on calves being breakfast for wolf packs?? I’ve followed on 2 seperate occassions an adult moose that was torn up by wolves. Both times the back end was hanging with blood gushing in the snow with damage to the extent I thought I’d find him/her piles up on the next ridge. BTW the wolf tracks were in the moose tracks and the animals fate was clearly sealed. Maybe some people need to search U-Tube for a splash of reality in in your morning coffee or your nightime “CAPTAIN”.. GO AHEAD?? Search Wolf kills Moose. Search WOLF KILLS ELK. Search WOLF KILLS BEAR. SILLY SILLY wolves are “cuddle bugs” chewing on rubber cheeseburgers in the kitchen right?? They aren’t vegetarians boys they like “Burgers on 4 legs” and they could care less if there is any salad to go with the MEAT.

Honestly I LOVE gray wolves and DO NOT support decimating the species. We watch them each winter out across the creek in our spotting scope. I’ve seen them while hunting deer for many years. I’ve watched them on at least 6 seperate instances within 50 feet of me which literally makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck. VERY VERY COOL! STILL……….. wolves need to be managed like we manage our big game in the state. Placing more importance on a predator versus the prey will continue to showcase devasting results in wolf country. These results will continue to outrage guys that live with the day to day realities of entire herds of deer killed or run off land. REALITY Plain and simple.

For. Like fire and opposed to treaties inside US borders too.
Just so you know…

I have no problems with wolves. I do believe we should be able to manage them at a state level.

S, S, and SU

Dont worry Tom…Everyone’s entitled to an opinion…

But when you have a large amount of wolves in a relatively small geographic area as the U. P. there is a whole different scenario… We are “fenced in” by Lake Superior and Lake Michigan and wolves thrived on our large Deer herd. As the deer diminished and wolves multiplied, many of the wolves here moved into Wisconsin and Minnesota…in fact, there have been ID collered wolves

that were tagged here recovered in WI, MN, IN, IL and even MO… Thats no BS! Wolves tear up their prey alive (nice)

They reduce a pet dog to a bloody skull and bones in minutes…We have had instances of wolves taking dogs right off the chain in their yard, within sight of the family/kids. Because of the Fed Endangered Species Act you may go to prison for shooting one that threatens you…Those of you that have no experiences like that with wolves can not appreciate the carnage they cause… I’ve talked to Guides from Alaska and Canada…

Chris Granrud’s post is right on, but increase the density and add lots more homes and people and the problems get alarming.

Me personally think it is a little crazy to list wolves as endangered when Canada has well over 20,000. I am sure glad the these organizations weren`t around during the dinosaur era. Species come and go as long as there has been life on the earth………..and and even before man was here…..go figure!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am 790 had a call in one morning for people that had wolf damage. I was surprised how many people have lost colts cattle sheep chickens ducks and pets to wolves in the Chippewa Falls area. These were confirmed wolf kills by the DNR. Bears can be just as bad.

Bears eat the fawns like candy and the wolves eat the adult deer without a problem. I think it is neat to be able to see them and hear them. Nature is not complete without them. But control is needed. Here is a link to WI latest numbers from DNR.
web page

WI DNR total dollar payments.

web page

Asking the federal government to control wolf populations is like asking BrianK for advise on pitching blade baits for walleye. Just a bad idea.

I am a firm believer that we need to have predators and prey, but as we all know, too many predators and not enough prey is a bad thing. IMHO, open a season on them, bring in extra revenue for the DNR, and manage a population to keep it in control.

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Asking the federal government to control wolf populations is like asking BrianK for advise on pitching blade baits for walleye. Just a bad idea.

I am a firm believer that we need to have predators and prey, but as we all know, too many predators and not enough prey is a bad thing. IMHO, open a season on them, bring in extra revenue for the DNR, and manage a population to keep it in control.

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I’ve been patiently waiting for there to be a wolf season. I’ve got a special spot reserved in my game room for a full body wolf. Ideally a big black male.

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Asking the federal government to control wolf populations is like asking BrianK for advise on pitching blade baits for walleye. Just a bad idea.

I am a firm believer that we need to have predators and prey, but as we all know, too many predators and not enough prey is a bad thing. IMHO, open a season on them, bring in extra revenue for the DNR, and manage a population to keep it in control.

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Yeah, you can’t have man hunting all the other animals and expect a protected predators population to stay balanced.

And thanks to mans clubs, foundations and associations we have game to hunt

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when you have a large amount of wolves in a relatively small geographic area as the U. P. there is a whole different scenario…

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Exactly. And Minnesota’s wolf population has to be handled different than, say, Wyoming’s wolves. I just don’t have much faith in the MN dnr’s ability to deal with wolves. They’ve screwed up deer management big time and a lot of the issues people blame on wolves is actually a mis-management problem in St. Paul.

Wife and I did a loop drive around the UP a couple years ago and it was beautiful country.

Against Wolves. At least in the area I have deer hunted the past 35 years. Between the wolves, bears, native americans, unlimited doe tags, baiting, and private game refuges, the days of seeing multiple deer are gone. Wolves are killing machines. They are cool animals that dominate the food chain. They need to be controlled.

Not sure on the exact wording of the question… but I am FOR delisting, if it’s not endangered, it is not endangered and therefore does not need federal protection. If they want more wolves in California than we want in MN, that should be their and not the federal gov’ts decision I give the DNR more credit than alot of people… most years they are pretty close with the deer herd… just seems the last 5-6 years, there has been alot of discrepencies….??? Coincidence ???