Hunting still an option in Michigan’s updated gray wolf plan if species de-listed again
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This is a close up image of a gray wolf in autumn. Michigan wildlife regulators kept wolf hunting and trapping in the updated state management plan for the species. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Allowing hunters, trappers, and livestock owners to kill gray wolves remains a part of the play book for Michigan wildlife regulators, should the species ever lose its federal protections again.
Officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources this week released their draft wolf management plan, updated with the latest scientific research about the federally protected species. The guidelines spell out how state authorities would decide whether hunters ever get a shot to bag one of North America’s apex canine predators in the Upper Peninsula – that is, should wolves ever be de-listed again.
State officials said there are no guarantees there will ever be another wolf hunt in Michigan; there’s also no guarantee in the updated plan that there won’t be.
“It doesn’t say we’re going to have a hunt. Well, it doesn’t preclude a hunt either. It just spells out the steps that we would do if we were given that opportunity and that charge from the (Natural Resources Commission),” said Brian Roell, DNR wildlife biologist and wolf specialist.
Overall goals of the state’s wolf plan are to maintain a viable wolf population, facilitate benefits of the species, minimize conflicts with livestock and pets, and look after the state’s wolves in ways that are “science-based and socially responsible.” A litany of non-lethal methods to avoid conflicts outlined in the document offer options to try before considering killing any wolves, from flashing lights and loud sounds to guard dogs and even donkeys.
A public hunting or trapping season would never be the first choice to resolve wolf conflicts, Roell insisted.
“We don’t believe that hunting wolves on a broad-scale range necessarily will help mitigate livestock depredation,” he said.
“What we’re seeing is it’s not the wolf population that’s the reason for an increase in livestock depredation. It is the pack of wolves at a much smaller scale. So, if you have a hunt and you don’t affect the wolves that are the ones causing the problem, you won’t change the depredation,” Roell said.
Killing wolves for anything other than attacking a human currently is illegal because the species remains protected by the federal Endangered Species Act.
The shifting legal status for wolves sparked debate that sometimes grew contentious as stakeholders argued whether state wildlife regulators should allow wolves to be killed to control livestock predation or for recreational hunting and trapping. The process pitted hunting advocates against those who prefer lethal methods against wolves remain forbidden.
Those on both sides of Michigan’s wolf hunt argument this week said they were disappointment with elements within the latest update to the state’s goals for the species.
Hunting advocates wanted state officials to be more specific about wolf population goals, while those opposed to killing wolves prefer humans learn to live side-by-side with wolf packs left to thrive unchecked.
Gary Gorniak of Moran, president of the Straits Area Sportsman’s Club and vice-president for the Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance, said DNR officials should set a goal for wolf numbers and work to maintain that level.
“Be more specific about what’s an ideal number, OK? The DNR has an ideal number to manage elk. They want so many elk in this range because that’s what the range can support. OK. But the wolves? No, we’re not going to come up with a number for them,” he said.
Nick Green, spokesperson for Michigan United Conservation Clubs, argued gray wolves have been beyond federal and state goals for a minimum wolf population in Michigan for years.
“So, it’s not as if this is a newly recovered species in our mind,” he said.
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Taxidermy wolf inside the temporary visitor center at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Seney on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Eric Wallis talks on his farm, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Donkeys lie near cows on the farm of Cliff Lindberg, near Bruce Crossing in the western Upper Peninsula, on Friday, May 20, 2022. Lindberg said he used to lose cows to wild wolves until he started using donkeys to deter the wolves since 2011. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Nancy Warren, a wolf education advocate, shows a cast of wild wolf paw print in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula on Friday, May 20, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Trail cam image of a wild wolf in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. (Image provided by Nancy Warren)
Image of wolf tracks in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. (Image provided by Nancy Warren)
Cliff Lindberg shuts a gate on his farm, near Bruce Crossing in the western Upper Peninsula, on Friday, May 20, 2022. Lindberg said he used to lose cows to wild wolves until he started using donkeys to deter the wolves since 2011. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Cliff Lindberg speaks on his farm, near Bruce Crossing in the western Upper Peninsula, on Friday, May 20, 2022. Lindberg said he used to lose cows to wild wolves until he started using donkeys to deter the wolves since 2011. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Fladry line in an attempt to deter wild wolves from targeting lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Eric Wallis poses for a picture with a lamb on his farm, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
A donkey lies near cows on the farm of Cliff Lindberg, near Bruce Crossing in the western Upper Peninsula, on Friday, May 20, 2022. Lindberg said he used to lose cows to wild wolves until he started using donkeys to deter the wolves since 2011. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Donkeys lie near cows on the farm of Cliff Lindberg, near Bruce Crossing in the western Upper Peninsula, on Friday, May 20, 2022. Lindberg said he used to lose cows to wild wolves until he started using donkeys to deter the wolves since 2011. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Cows on the farm of Cliff Lindberg, near Bruce Crossing in the western Upper Peninsula, on Friday, May 20, 2022. Lindberg said he used to lose cows to wild wolves until he started using donkeys to deter the wolves since 2011. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Nancy Warren, a wolf education advocate, gives a tour of wild wolf territory in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula on Friday, May 20, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Nancy Warren, a wolf education advocate, identifies wolf scat while giving a tour of wild wolf territory in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula on Friday, May 20, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Wolf scat identified by Nancy Warren who was giving a tour of wild wolf territory in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula on Friday, May 20, 2022. Warren is a wolf education advocate. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Nancy Warren, a wolf education advocate, gives a tour of wild wolf territory in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula on Friday, May 20, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Nancy Warren, a wolf education advocate, poses for a portrait in wild wolf territory in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula on Friday, May 20, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Fladry line in an attempt to deter wild wolves from targeting lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
The farm of Cliff Lindberg, near Bruce Crossing in the western Upper Peninsula, on Friday, May 20, 2022. Lindberg said he used to lose cows to wild wolves until he started using donkeys to deter the wolves since 2011. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Eric Wallis, front, processes a newborn lamb with Ben Kresge, on his farm near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Eric Wallis, right, tags a newborn lamb with Ben Kresge, on his farm near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Ben Kresge holds a newborn lamb on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Gary Gorniak, president of the Straits Area Sportsman's Club, speaks on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. Gorniak, who is from Moran, also advocates for the right to shoot wolves. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
John Rickley, hunter and enrolled citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, speaks on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. Rickley, who is from St. Ignace, also advocates for the right to shoot wolves. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Lambs on the farm of Eric Wallis, near Rudyard in the eastern Upper Peninsula, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Wallis says he loses numerous lambs to wild wolves and advocates for the right to shoot wolves threatening his flock. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Wildlife officials estimate around 700 wolves live across Upper Michigan.
Gray wolf advocates contend the top predator species should only be hunted if there were a valid reason to do so. Wolf educator Nancy Warren said there isn’t one, especially since hunts to deal with summertime livestock conflicts wouldn’t typically happen until autumn.
“When there’s a conflict in June or July, we need to resolve that conflict in June or July. We can’t wait until November for killing wolves. So, there’s a disconnect to having a hunting season in November,” Warren said.
“It really comes down to it’s a recreational wolf hunt. And it’s killing wolves because you want to kill wolves,” she said.
Nancy Warren, a wolf education advocate, gives a tour of wild wolf territory in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula on Friday, May 20, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Another critic of hunting wolves is Nichole Biber, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians citizen and Wolf Preservation Team leader for the Michigan Anishinaabek Caucus. She contends the draft wolf plan reflects “the outsized influence of those who continue to push for a wolf hunt.”
“The tension and conflict caused by short-sighted calls to kill and cull the stabilized packs only makes it more difficult for the DNR to focus on and promote the benefits of non-lethal coexistence,” Biber said.
“This continued distraction of catering to those who cling to misconceptions about wolves is a disservice to the larger populace who value wildlife biodiversity, as well as being shamefully disrespectful and dismissive of our tribal nations’ Traditional Ecological Knowledge.”
It’s a fundamental Anishinaabek belief that the fates of humans and wolves are intertwined, she explained.
This is the third version of Michigan’s wolf management plan, the first being drafted in 2008 and then updated in 2015. The draft state wolf plan update will be open for public review and comments through Aug. 4.
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