MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Early next year, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is removing wolves from the endangered species list.
Now the Wisconsin DNR says next fall it’ll allow hunting and trapping of the animals, which are concentrated in the northern parts of our state.
Wolves have not been hunted in Wisconsin since 2014.
“This has been a long ongoing process,” Timber Wolf Alliance Council Chair Adrian Wydeven said.
“Between now and then we will have a robust and deliberate and transparent process to collect input,” DNR Administrator Keith Warnke said.
Warnke tells FOX 11 they’ll consider that input as they establish a quota for kill, and issue a limited number of permits to hunters.
“We have many wolves with radio collars on them, so we can get an idea of survival rates and movements and pack sizes.”
“They are doing very well within our region,” Wydeven added.
The DNR says Wisconsin has at least 1,034 wolves, but the exact population could be much higher. There are some opponents to the idea of re-opening hunting of the animals.
“It’s animal protection type groups and some of it is they oppose some of the lethal controls of the population,” Wydeven said.
“We certainly are in close contact,” Warnke continued.
Wydeven tells FOX 11 the announcement is a relief to another group.
“It has been a concern with farmers, there have been as many as 49 farms that have been affected by wolf depredation in Wisconsin. Although in recent years it’s generally been in the range of 25 to 30 farms that are affected each year.”
“It really is a tough situation,” Warnke said. “I really feel for folks who have suffered depredation.”
“I don’t think there’s any risk in the near-future of wolves becoming extinct,” Wydeven said. “I think the population is very secure in Wisconsin.”
Until January 4th it is still illegal to kill a wolf in Wisconsin, unless the animal is threatening people. The DNR says hunting season will kick off on November 6th and it could roll through February.
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