Court voids lethal wolf control program in WI & MI
Jess Edberg

Officials in Michigan and Wisconsin may no longer remove wolves that kill livestock, according to a recent federal court ruling. Earlier this year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued the two states special permits allowing managers to kill up to 40 wolves in Michigan and 43 wolves in Wisconsin through the end of the year if certain conditions were met, including verification of the wolves being involved in the depredation and indications that the site was likely to experience further depredations in the near future.

According to wolf managers in both states, these permits had provided the states' natural resources departments with an important tool for dealing with wolves that kill domestic livestock.

"The ability to remove depredating wolves is necessary in our efforts to address landowner problems," stated Signe Holtz, director of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Bureau of Endangered Resources. Full story.