Wolves in Danger from Hunters: U.S. Humane Society Sues FWS

Wolves were once on the brink of extinction in the U.S., only found in parts of Yellowstone National Park and Alaska. Now the population has rebounded, prompting Gov. Rick Snyder to approve a bill in December that designated the wolf as a game animal in Michigan. Yet environmental groups are speaking out against potential wolf hunts that could help cull the state's population.

The Human Society of the United States and other groups have banded together to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in order to restore federal protections for wolves in the western Great Lakes region. Although farmers are allowed to protect livestock by shooting wolves, environmental groups fear that allowing an open season will slash wolf numbers and will endanger the recovery of the species' population throughout most of their historic range. In addition, the Endangered Species Act requires protection for a species that is endangered throughout its historic range; since the grey wolf is currently spread across just five percent of this range, environmental groups believe they have a strong case.

Already, Minnesota and Wisconsin allow wolf hunts. At the end of their recently concluded season, though, hunters bagged over 500 wolves; this could mean that hunting could cause a drop in genetic diversity in wolf populations.

Currently, the wolf population in Michigan is estimated to include 700 individuals. In order to be delisted, the population had to have at least 200 wolves in the state of Michigan for five years--this delisting officially occurred in January 2011.

If the Natural Resources Commission, a panel appointed by the government, agrees with Gov. Rick Snyder, there could be a wolf hunt as early as this fall.

Opposition groups are currently campaigning for a statewide referendum on the new law. If they can gather enough petition signatures, they may be able to get the issue on the ballot in the November 2014 election. This could put any hunts on hold until after the vote.