WOLF ATTACK COMPENSATION ON CHOPPING BLOCK
Sunday, April 17th, 2011 -- 6:40 AM
Wisconsin Ag Connection reports a federal program that compensates farmers when their livestock are killed or attacked by wolves may be on the chopping block under the budget being considered by Congress. The latest spending package reportedly has no funds available for the USDA's Wildlife Services program, which is what provides resources for local and state natural resources personnel to investigate wolf complaints or kill problem wolves in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.In April 2009, the federal government removed the wolves from the Endangered Species Act list in certain states, including Wisconsin. But two months later, animal rights groups reached a court-ordered settlement with the agency that restored those protections.
The latest figures from the Wisconsin DNR indicate that wolf attacks caused problems on 47 farms last year, up from 28 farms in 2009, and from the previous record 32 farms in 2008. Douglas County led the list with 12 livestock attacks. Specifically, the agency notes that wolves killed 47 calves, 16 adult cows, six sheep and six farmed deer on Wisconsin farms in 2010. The estimated damage was about $114,000.
They also killed a record 14 pet dogs and another 20 bear hunting hounds in Minnesota during the same year.
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