Wisconsin Leaders Continue to Work on Removing Gray Wolf from Endangered Species List
Friday, January 20th, 2017 -- 8:03 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -Congressman Sean Duffy's bill to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species list now has a Senate companion.On Tuesday, Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin introduced legislation that would remove certain protections for the animal in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Wyoming. The measure was also co-sponsored by John Barrasso and Mike Enzi of Wyoming, and Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota. Specifically, the measure would allow wolf management plans that are based on federal and state wildlife expertise to move forward without any legal ambiguity.
Johnson adds that the bill's language does not modify the Endangered Species Act, nor does it prevent Fish and Wildlife Service experts from ever returning the wolf to 'endangered status' if they determine the population is in need of federal protection. State wildlife officials say the population of wolves in Wisconsin has risen to nearly 900 animals. Wisconsin has held several wolf hunts in recent years to help control the population of the wild animal.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.