February 23, 2023 at 1:25 p.m.
Public weighs in on proposed wolf plan in listening session
Public comment open until Feb. 28
Public weighs in on proposed wolf plan in listening session
People from both sides of the wolf issue, as well as many people from out of state, attended the listening session and registered to speak. After the tribes gave their input on the plan, each registered attendee was given two minutes to provide their input. Several tribes were present and gave their views on the plan, most of them giving a nod to the plan's attempts to compromise with the tribes by allowing only limited hunting opportunities in a buffer zone around reservation lands. However, each expressed the wish to disallow a harvest season on wolves if and when they should be federally delisted once again.
"I have to say it's disappointing when our DNR has to hold a pretend listening session because they won't hold public hearings," said Mike Brust of Wausau. "This isn't a listening session. A listening session is where you go and listen to the concerns of the people involved. There's actually a real listening session scheduled for February 28th in Douglas County where the citizens there are trying to deal with the wolf overpopulation. But it's not being held by our DNR. It's sponsored by groups actually trying to deal with the problems." The session in which he spoke, he said, was nothing more than an extension of the public comment period. In this period, he said, large animal rights organizations have scripted their members to comment from the comfort of their couches, often from out of state, on issues in which they are not involved. Brust said these organizations are monetarily motivated, rather than motivated by attempting to solve the issues on which their members comment in a way that is beneficial to all stakeholders. He said he felt some had been "duped" into believing that wolves were endangered when they were not. He went on to say that money from sportsmen and women, in the form of licenses, played a large part in the recovery of that species.
Several individuals pointed to the lack of a numeric population goal as a flaw of the proposed plan, while others felt the adaptive management style proposed would better serve all interests.
Tyler Wenzloff, director of national affairs for the Farm Bureau and a resident of Stoughton spoke about the concerns of the Farm Bureau was one of those who spoke about the lack of a population goal. He said the adaptive management approach in which "a set of ambiguous objectives are set." Setting consistent zone harvest quotas under this management approach was nearly impossible, he said.
Wenzloff also spoke out against the expansion of the Zone 4 wolf management zone into Marathon County, as did others such as Laurie Groskopf of Tomahawk. These places were previously listed as unsuitable habitat for wolves, but would now be listed as secondary habitat. Groskopf called the proposed plan expansionist and expressed concern about the redrawn zones as well.
"Every scientist who knows wolves, knows that wolves belong in areas where there is plenty of game for them to eat, very low human presence, and very low agriculture presence," she said. The draft plan, however, did not recognize at least two out of three of those parameters, she said. She said wolves were needed in Wisconsin, but they belonged in places where their safety was assured, as was human safety. She, too, highlighted the lack of a numeric population goal as an issue with the plan.
Chris Albert of Mount Washington, Kentucky spoke on the call as well. She said she understood the concerns of producers, but also, as a veterinarian, she said she felt wolves were very important.
"There are lots of good things I see in the updated wolf management plan," she said. "I am very glad that the concept of a population cap on wolves has been dropped. I'm glad there is emphasis on non-lethal deterrents to minimize livestock conflict. A buffer zone around tribal lands is a good idea ... When there is a consistent problem with an animal, only that animal should be targeted." She said a general hunting or trapping season, in her estimation, was not a "useful or appropriate response" and did not diminish livestock conflict. She said she was also against hunting with hounds, stating the activity should be banned from national forests at the very least.
Amy Mueller from Waukesha County said she was in overall support of the draft plan. She felt it reflected the recent DNR public survey that showed wolves were being seen more favorably than in the past. Mueller also said she thought it was focused on the ecological benefits provided by wolves as well as critical tribal consultation.
Several speakers mentioned wolves and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer. Some felt wolves provided biosecurity tools where the disease was concerned. Several who spoke, including tribal members, said wolves would target deer sick with CWD, thereby possibly reducing the spread of the disease. It is unclear whether there are studies that would support this, however. None were referenced during the listening session.
Wolf expert Adrian Wydevn gave his thoughts about the plan as well. Wydevn, from Cable, represented Wisconsin's Greenfire on the wolf advisory committee. Greenfire, he said, congratulated the department on creating the latest draft plan "while incorporating the latest science while considering diverse opinions of stakeholders." Greenfire, he said, supported removal of the numeric goal for wolves, as has been done with bear. He also said, with new knowledge of carrying capacity of wolves in the state, moving beyond the original 350 animal goal was warranted. Managing to that number, he said, would require the elimination of wolves from two-thirds of what is now deemed wolf range in the state. He said Greenfire also supported, in large part, the redrawing of zones, with the exception of the western part of Lincoln County. They also supported the buffer zones as drawn around tribal lands.
Approximately 100 people registered to speak at this online listening session. Those interested in listening to the entire session, which spanned over three hours, may listen to the recording on the DNR YouTube channel by searching WIDNR and clicking on the videos tab on that platform.
Those looking to read the full plan, and to make public comment on the plan can do so by visiting the DNR website dnr.wi.gov and searching the keywords "wolf management." Public input will be accepted through the end of February.
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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