WFBF Submits Comments For Removing Protections on Wolves
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/05/2011
The state's largest farm organization has submitted a letter to
federal regulators supporting the removal of gray wolves from protected
status. In its memo, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation says it
supports the proposal from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove
the Western Great Lakes Distinct
Population Segment of gray wolves from the Federal list of endangered
and threatened species.
The organization says Wisconsin has
exceeded population goals set in the 1989 wolf recovery plan devised by
the Department of Natural Resources. A goal of 80 wolves was met in
1997; and by 1999 the DNR created a wolf management plan for an
increasing population of gray wolves that called for a delisting
goal of 250 wolves and a state management goal of 350 wolves. The wolf
count in 2010-2011 determined over 800 gray wolves are living in
Wisconsin.
"The carrying capacity for wolves in the Wisconsin
landscape has been exceeded and is causing stress and destructive
behavior by some wolf populations," wrote Karen Gefvert, Wisconsin Farm
Bureau Director of Governmental Relations. "Wolf verified livestock
kills have increased over 250 percent since 2003
and almost doubled from 2009 to 2010."
Total incidents of
depredation of livestock and pets for Wisconsin in 2010 were 99. In
addition, there were 20 depredation related injuries to livestock and
pets in 2010. Total compensation for wolf confirmed injury or loss in
Wisconsin totaled approximately $175,000.
Farm Bureau notes that a
reduction in funding from the federal government for wolf depredation
management, Wisconsin must be given the tools needed to manage wolf
populations.
Source
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