MADISON (WSAU) A wolf expert from U-W Madison told state lawmakers yesterday there are serious problems with a bill to create a hunting season for grey wolves. The bill was quickly proposed after the U-S Fish-and-Wildlife Service removed Upper Midwest grey wolves from the national endangered species’ list. The U-W’s Adrian Treves did not oppose a wolf hunt – but he said the size-and-scope must be a lot narrower than what lawmakers are considering.
For one thing, Treves said a wolf hunt should not be conducted statewide. He cited previous studies by his U-W research team which showed that 11-of-every-12 wolf attacks against farm animals occur in less than one-third of Wisconsin’s land area. Also, the bill would allow hunters to use dogs-and-traps to kill wolves – but Treves says Wisconsinites are clearly against that. He said his team surveyed state residents five times in the last 11 years, and they’ve opposed the use of dogs-and-traps by a 2-to-1 margin. Treves also told lawmakers that opponents of wolf hunting would try to make it a campaign issue for politicians – and he predicted lawsuits to delay or stop a wolf hunt.
