During the first week of November, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will hold five public hearings on the proposal to remove the gray wolf from the state threatened species list. This change comes in response to the 2002-2003 winter count of wolves, which estimated 328 wolves living outside of Native American reservations in the state, and a 2001-2002 winter count estimating 313 wolves. The Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan calls for delisting wolves from state protection after populations remain at or exceed 250 wolves outside of a reservation for one year.

While the state's Wolf Management Plan proposes changing the status from threatened to protected nongame species, groups are pushing for a furbearer status listing. The furbearer status would permit government trappers to control population growth and allow the killing of wolves by the public–premature actions for a wolf population that has just reached recovery goals. It is critical that the Wisconsin residents who support wolf recovery in their state appear at the hearings to give public comments or submit written comments about the proposed rule to remove wolves from state endangered species protection.
The following five hearings have been scheduled for November 5 and 6:

When: Wednesday, November 5, 2003
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where:
*Spooner - Auditorium, Spooner AG Research Center, W 6646 Hwy. 70
*Stevens Point - UW Stevens Point Schmeekle Reserve, 2419 North Point Drive
*Madison - Room 027, State Natural Resources Building (GEF 2), 101 S. Webster St.

When: Thursday, November 6, 2003
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where:
*Rhinelander - James Williams Jr. High School, 915 Acacia Lane
*Black River Falls - Black River Falls Middle School, LGI Room, 1202 Pierce St.

Talking points to review for the hearing:

1) Wolves need to be listed under the status of protected nongame species, not furbearer status. Furbearer status would open wolf populations to a public and governmental killing upon federal delisting;
2) Intense monitoring of wolf populations should continue after state delisting;
3) Informational materials and workshops, which focus on nonlethal control methods and ways to coexist with predators peacefully, should be readily available to farmers and other residents;
4) Proactive nonlethal methods should be encouraged and used as a first strategy of management when conflicts occur with wolves.

Additional points to include in your comments:
1) Wolves play an important ecological role in predator-prey balance and help maintain the health of ungulate herds, assuring there are whole ecosystems intact for future generations;
2) Wolves hold cultural significance to many people;
3) Wolves have a positive economic impact on communities due to increased ecotourism.

Written comments on the proposed rule carry the same weight as public testimony and may be submitted by November 21, 2003 to Wolf Biologist, P.O. Box 22, Park Falls, WI 54552.

A copy of the proposed rule may be obtained by contacting Mr. Randy Jurewicz, Bureau of Endangered Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. The Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan is available at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/publications/wolfplan/toc.htm