The Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association (WBHA) called on Wisconsin lawmakers to remove wolves from the endangered species list.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, there were at least 925 wolves in Wisconsin during the winter of 2016-2017. The state plan calls for 350 wolves outside of reservations.
“It is long past time that we allow our state Department of Natural Resources to manage the wolf population,” said WBHA President Carl Schoettel, told the Wisconsin State Farmer.
A federal judge removed wolves from state management in the Great Lakes region in 2014. In 2015, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined a coalition of partners by filing an appeal. The court sided with Wyoming in a similar case.
The court earlier sided with Wyoming officials in a similar case in 2017. A decision regarding wolves in the Great Lakes region is expected at any time.
RMEF maintains that wolves should be managed by state agencies just as they manage elk, bears, deer and other wildlife.