To the Journal editor:

The discussion of opening a wolf hunt in Michigan has been proposed now that the former administration delisted wolves from the endangered species list in January of this year.

It is illogical to host a hunt or even to begin planning a hunt in the same year the animal was removed from the endangered species list. Looking at science and data, we should all be able to agree that a wolf hunt in Michigan would be a devastating decision.

Wisconsin held a wolf hunt which exceeded the quota in only three days of hunting. Intensifying the damage to the wolf population, their hunt was held during the mating season.

As Adrian Treves, a professor of environmental science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison said, “I think what the Wisconsin wolf hunt shows us is how quickly a determined group of hunters and poachers can reduce a wolf population to the level where it’s going to be endangered again.”

Sens. McBroom and Bumstead are advocates for a wolf hunt to help “limit potential wolf and human conflicts.” Potential? There is no research that shows wolves are any serious threat to humans in our daily lives.

Another argument posed in favor of hosting a hunt is to protect livestock. The U.P. is home to Michigan’s wolf population, somewhere around 600 wolves. It is clear there is no significant problem. For example, wolves took only five calves last year, for which there is a reimbursement program available to those farmers. We can all see that this does not justify an organized hunt.

There is no good reason to hunt wolves. They don’t pose a real threat to humans, they don’t destroy livestock to the extent of being problematic, and we do not eat their meat or use their hide.

I encourage others to research and contact our elected government officials to stop the proposal of Michigan wolf hunts.