The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has voted to have 300 wolves killed in the fall of 2021, twice as many as biologists recommend. The board wants to support farmers, believes that hunting wolves is necessary to control the wolf population and protect livestock.
Hunting Wolves in Wisconsin
In February 2021, hunters killed 216 gray wolves in just three days during the spring hunting season. Despite being allowed to kill about 100 individuals.
The Wisconsin Council for Natural Resources board of directors voted 5 to 2 in favor of farmers. Instead of the recommended 130 wolves, hunters can kill 300 individuals in the fall. Concerned activists hope the federal government will get involved.
“Dozens of members of the US House have joined a huge group of Native American tribes, animal welfare groups, conservation groups, and other stakeholders to call on Home Secretary Haaland and President Biden not to wait another day and restore federal protections for gray wolves as an endangered species.” Said Paul Collins, Wisconsin’s chief state officer at Animal Wellness Action.
The Gray Wolf under the Presidential Administration
At the end of October 2020, the Trump administration removed the gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act. Until then, beasts have been protected for more than 40 years under the ESA (Endangered Species Act, 1974).
Although conservation efforts have been largely successful for the gray wolf, many experts, ecologists, and biologists have said it is too early to discard the species from ESA.
In Brave Wilderness on the children’s channel, Biden confirmed that he believed that wolves “need protection more than ever”. However, his administration has to take concrete steps on this.
Source: https://www.greenmatters.com/p/wisconsin-wolf-hunt-2021, featured image by Christel SAGNIEZ from Pixabay
