Grey wolves are back on federal endangered species list

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A state official says it’s extremely frustrating for landowners who have to put up with the state’s on-again, off-again efforts to manage grey wolves.

For the fifth time in six years, Wisconsin’s management plan was shut down last week when the wolf was returned to the federal endangered species’ list.

The move came after a lawsuit from animal rights’ groups which said the government did not provide for the required public input the last time the wolf was delisted a few weeks ago.

The Department of Natural Resource’s Adrian Wydeven says Wisconsin must rely on the USDA to deal with problem wolves every time the animal is returned to the endangered list and the state’s management plan is shut down.

The current delisting will continue for at least a couple months, while a public comment period takes place.

Meanwhile, the DNR said wolves have damaged livestock at eight farms this year, and attacked three residential dogs.

Wydeven said the state trapped and killed eight problem wolves this year, and a landowner killed a wolf which was threatening livestock.

One of the plaintiffs, the Center for Biological Diversity, says most property owners can protect livestock without shooting wolves and the USDA’s trapping efforts should be enough.

Tags: gray wolves, outdoors, endangered, northland, hunting