Federal and state agencies are looking to remove wolves from the Endangered Species List.
UPPER PENINSULA -- Mike Weinfurter flies planes for the Wisconsin DNR. His job? Monitoring the wolf population, and he's seeing more and more wolves these days.
Today there are more than 600 wolves in the U.P. and another 600 in Wisconsin. That number is growing about 12 percent to 15 percent per year. As a result, both state and federal agencies are now pushing for the removal of wolves from the Endangered Species List.
"Wolves, over the last decade or even more, have been really doing well in the Midwest," said Christie Deloria-Sheffield from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "So in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, their population has expanded."
If the wolf is removed from the Endangered Species List, it would give states control of wolf management; in this case, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Retired DNR wolf expert Jim Hammill said wolves needed Endangered Species protection at one time, but that time has passed.
"We have a responsibility to manage wolves," said Hammill. "We felt that we had a responsibility to recover them, they're recovered. Now our responsibility extends to the management of these animals which, in my opinion, includes control of these animals."
One method of control suggested by Hammill is having a wolf hunting season similar to the black bear season already in place.
However, Nancy Warren, a wolf activist since 1993, strongly opposes the idea. She believes wolf management should extend to protecting livestock, but not to hunting.
"I think wolves should be managed based on conflicts," said Warren. "So if we have 50 wolves and those wolves are not coming onto a farm, not affecting livestock, there's no reason why those 50 wolves couldn't be in a particular area."
The Humane Society is leading several activist groups to prevent the delisting of wolves through legal action. According to the Humane Society's Web site, the group has blocked six delisting attempts by the federal government since 2004.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hopes it can make a stronger case for delisting wolves in the future so states can take control of the management.
"Making sure that our decision is biologically sound and legally defensible," Deloria-Sheffield said. "So hopefully when we make this decision, it sticks this time."
Which means potentially less wolf spotting for Weinfurter, but more control by the DNR.
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