MARQUETTE -- UPDATE - 10:35 p.m.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is working toward the delisting of the gray wolf as an endangered species in the western Great Lakes region.
In the past month, public hearings have been held about delisting, as well as informational meetings. The meetings were simply a way for the public to understand how this proposed delisting process works. And it is really complex to get the gray wolf off the endangered species list in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Even though this was just a place for people to get their questions answered, many of them still found a way to make their opinions about wolves known.
"The number of complaints, investigations, and recovered kills continue to increase as the population increases," says Dan Hopkins, field operations captain for the Law Enforcement Division of the D.N.R.
Six-hundred-eighty-seven wolves were recorded in the Upper Peninsula last year. And for the first time in a century, wolves were also discovered in the Lower Peninsula.
At Thursday night's meeting, residents expressed their concerns and opinions about the effect delisting would have on the gray wolf.
"I agree, wolves don't meet the criteria for endangered state, but I see some real threats out there," said Nancy Warren of Ewen.
"I believe that the people up here, we live with these killing machines, and I believe that our written opinions should hold more merit than some people downstate, long-time animal-lover types," argued John Lucas of Alger County.
But the main purpose of Thursday night's meeting was information for the public; information straight from the departments spearheading the delisting efforts: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the D.N.R.
"Lethal control of wolves continues to be the most effective management tool but is unavailable to us at this time, and we continue to kill any wolves that exhibit a threat to human safety," said U.P. Wildlife Supervisor Terry Minzey.
Until the gray wolf is placed back under state jurisdiction and federal protection is removed, authorities are unable to directly kill a wolf preying on livestock or pets.
After the wolf is delisted, both departments will implement a wolf management plan in five years to ensure that the species remains protected, although not listed specifically as endangered.
"Wolves have met the recovery criteria and are not in danger of extinction," Minzey adds. "We have good laws and a plan in place to manage wolves in Michigan, but until the federal protecting and anti-hunting litigation is resolved, wolves will be managed using the wrong tools, and many Michigan citizens will continue to be frustrated."
The issue of hunting wolves is a whole other animal, one that would need to be decided by the legislature.
The public comment period for this delisting proposal goes until July 5. That information can be found by visiting the US Fish and Wildlife Service website.
The service is then required to address and consider all of those comments before a final decision is made, hopefully before the end of the calendar year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wolves could soon be removed from the endangered species list.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed removing Endangered Species Act protection for the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes region.
Thursday night, the service is partnering with the Department of Natural Resources for a public information meeting. Members of the public are going to receive a lot of information about this proposal. They'll also have the chance to ask questions about the proposal after a presentation.
This proposal would remove ESA protection and return wolf management to appropriate state and tribal authorities.
The meeting is going on at the University Center on Northern Michigan University's campus from 6 to 9 p.m. If you would like to voice your opinion about wolf delisting, visit the US Fish and Wildlife Service website. There you can find more information on the public meeting and the process of delisting wolves.
The public comment period of the delisting process ends on July 5.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC