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Re: E-M:/ DNR Obtains Federal Permit to Address Wolf Depredations
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Enviro-Mich message from "Alexander J. Sagady" <ajs@sagady.com>
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What would be cheaper?......to do what is envisioned in the news release
to kill/remove wolves OR
.....to simply establish a claim fund for such depradation?
...considering all MDNR costs to run trapping/wolf interdiction....
At 09:19 AM 04/26/2005, you wrote:
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Enviro-Mich message from "Richard Morscheck" <morscher@michigan.gov>
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 26 April 2005
Contacts: Todd Hogrefe 517-373-1263, Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
DNR Obtains Federal Permit to Address Wolf Depredations
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources can take up to 20 wolves
under a permit granted April 19 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. The permit allows the DNR, under certain conditions, to use
lethal methods to address wolf-related livestock loss for the remainder of
2005.
"An ability to deal with animals that are causing problems, such as
livestock depredation, is important for the effective management and
conservation of gray wolves in Michigan," said DNR Director Rebecca
Humphries. "This permit will allow us to manage wolves in an ecologically
and socially responsible manner."
In January, a federal district court in Oregon withdrew a 2003 federal
decision that had reclassified gray wolves from endangered to threatened
status throughout much of the United States. Due to the change, management
actions pertaining to the species became more restricted. The DNR lost the
legal authority to use lethal control to deal with wolf-related livestock
depredation.
Although the wolf populations in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota have
exceeded recovery goals for several years, the status of wolves elsewhere
in the country drove the court's decision. As a result of this ruling,
the federal status of wolves in Michigan reverted to endangered.
The federal permit allows the DNR to take wolves under the following
conditions:
* Depredation must have occurred on lawfully present domestic animals,
including livestock as legally defined by the Michigan Department of
Agriculture. Lethal control may not be used when wolves kill dogs that are
free-roaming on, hunting on, or training
on public lands;
* Depredation at the site is likely to continue in the immediate future if
the depredating wolf or wolves are not removed;
* Depredation control activities must occur within one mile of the
depredation site;
* Traps and snares must be checked at least every 24 hours;
* Wolves born in 2005 and captured before Aug. 1 must be released near the
capture site;
* Lactating females trapped before July 1 must be released near the
capture site, unless they have been involved in three or more depredation
events, in which case they may be euthanized;
* Depredation control on tribal lands must be coordinated with tribal
natural resources personnel, and lethal control will only be carried out
if requested by the tribe;
* Prior to Aug. 1, no more than four accidental, serious trap-related
injuries or mortalities to wolves born in 2005 may occur. In the event
this number is reached, all trapping shall cease until Aug 1; and
* Prior to July 1, capture of lactating females may not exceed four
individuals. In the event this number is reached, all trapping shall cease
until July 1.
"We will continue to pursue and promote non-lethal techniques for
preventing depredation, but we must also retain the option of using
lethal control as a last resort when the alternatives are not effective,"
said Todd Hogrefe, DNR endangered species coordinator. "The conditions
of the permit, as well as our own agency guidelines, will ensure this
authority is used in a responsible manner."
During the 22 months under the previous threatened classification, 10
Michigan wolves were euthanized in response to confirmed depredation
events. During that period, the Michigan wolf population size grew by
approximately 25 percent. Approximately 400 wolves were counted in
Michigan during the survey conducted this past winter.
The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and
enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future generations.
###
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