Wolf advisory committee updates prompt questions from Conservation Congress

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) wolf advisory committee met this month at the Mead Wildlife Area in Milladore to hear updates on wolf management efforts in the state, including progress on the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) re-established wolf advisory committee.

The DNR committee was revived in anticipation of federal delisting of the gray wolf. While members received a general update on the committee’s formation and early meetings, several WCC members raised concerns about its composition and selection process.

According to a presentation by DNR large carnivore biologist Randy Johnson, the DNR wolf advisory committee consists of 24 seats. One seat is filled by a Conservation Congress member, while eight are held by DNR employees. Three seats are designated for federal and county representatives, and two seats are reserved for Ojibwe tribal members.

The remaining 10 seats are allocated to stakeholder groups, with two seats each designated for hunting and trapping interests, agriculture and ranching, conservation and education, environmental interests, and at-large citizens who applied to serve on the committee.

Johnson said interest in the committee exceeded available seats, making the selection process difficult. He added that committee membership would be reviewed periodically to determine whether members wished to continue serving and whether the DNR believed they were contributing constructively to the committee’s work.

Members of the WCC wolf advisory committee expressed concerns over stakeholder representation, particularly the absence of the Wisconsin Trappers’ Association. Several members noted that trappers have historically played a significant role in wolf management and are frequently relied upon by the DNR for trapping and collaring efforts.

Additional concerns echoed issues raised previously, including the geographic distribution of committee members, with many participants residing outside of wolf range, and perceptions that applicants were required to fully align with the state’s existing wolf management plan to be considered.

The DNR announced the committee’s formation and opened applications in April. Interviews and application reviews took place in June and July, with final committee selections announced in August. The committee met for the first time in September, followed by a second meeting in October. The initial meeting focused largely on team building and was facilitated by an outside moderator. The next meeting is expected to take place in early 2026.

Citizen resolution advances

The committee also considered a citizen resolution authored by the late Corky Meyer, a longtime conservation advocate and hound hunter who died earlier this year. Meyer had been developing a proposal to allow the use of trained dogs for target-specific wolf control.

The resolution was presented to the committee by Meyer’s daughter, Tanisha Peplinski. The proposal states that dogs have been used for centuries to protect livestock and human safety and have long served in roles such as law enforcement, military operations and livestock protection.

According to the resolution, trained dogs and handlers could be used to relocate problem wolf packs from conflict areas to more suitable habitat. Meyer cited the 2021 wolf hunt as an example of the efficiency and target-specific nature of dog-assisted wolf management, noting that necropsies conducted during and after the hunt showed no evidence of contact between wolves and hunting dogs used to fill quotas.

Peplinski said the resolution was brought forward prior to delisting because the regulatory process is expected to take time. The goal, she said, is to have additional management tools in place should wolves be removed from federal protection.

While some non-lethal deterrents can lose effectiveness over time, Peplinski said the use of trained dogs to move problem wolves has demonstrated lasting effectiveness and may reduce the need for lethal control. Johnson said similar methods have been used in other regions for species such as bears and mountain lions.

The committee voted to advance the resolution, with one dissenting vote cast by Genevieve Adamski.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].