MARQUETTE - With gray wolves removed from the federal endangered species list today, the animals remain protected non-game species in Michigan and residents can only kill the animals under limited, specific and controlled circumstances.
A month ago, a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist gray wolves in the Great Lakes states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota was published in the Federal Register and becomes effective today.
The change shifts management of the species to the states under their individual management plans, which each differ in the lethal controls allowed for wolves. In Michigan, there are now new state laws in effect, allowing for a wider range of options in dealing with problem wolves attacking dogs or livestock.
"Although lethal control methods are now legal in certain circumstances, wolves remain a protected species in Michigan and no hunting or trapping season is in place," said Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler. "The DNR will investigate and continue prosecution of any wolf poaching cases."
Illegally killing a wolf is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, or both, along with reimbursing the state for the cost of prosecution. The DNR now has the authority to manage wolves in Michigan.
"Delisting is a victory for the state and for Michigan citizens who have been affected by this issue," DNR Director Rodney Stokes said. "The state's healthy wolf population is a reminder that Michigan still has places where wild animals such as wolves can live and thrive. Fully implementing the state's Wolf Management Plan will allow us to more effectively respond to problem wolves, while maintaining a self-sustaining wolf population and increasing social acceptance of the species as a whole."
The DNR will continue to recommend nonlethal methods of control as the first option for residents. However, in cases where nonlethal methods are not working or are not feasible, state officials will now have greater flexibility to use lethal means to remove problem wolves when appropriate. In addition, Michigan residents will be able to legally protect their livestock and dogs if an animal is being attacked by a wolf.
In 2008, the Michigan legislature passed laws which take effect today. Those laws allow livestock or dog owners, or their designated agents, to remove, capture, or, if deemed necessary, use lethal means to destroy a wolf that is "in the act of preying upon" (attempting to kill or injure) the owner's livestock or dog or dogs.
In a news release today, the DNR outlined the guidelines for dog or livestock owners who kill a wolf:
- Report the lethal take of a wolf by calling the Report All Poaching (RAP) hotline at 800-292-7800 no later than 12 hours after the lethal take.
- Retain possession of the wolf until a DNR official is available to take possession. A DNR official will respond to the scene within 12 hours of notification.
- Do not move or disturb the dead wolf. The only exception to this rule is if a wolf has been killed in the act of preying upon livestock and leaving the wolf in place would impede normal farming practices. In that case the wolf may be moved to a secure location once photographs are taken of the wolf and the area where lethal means were used.
The DNR estimates the Upper Peninsula wolf population to be 687 animals. Under the delisting, federal officials will continue to monitor wolf populations for several years to ensure their viability.
Suspected poaching violations may be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the DNR's RAP hotline at 800-292-7800. Expanded details on Michigan's Wolf Management Plan are available on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/wolves
John Pepin can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.
