Wolf Delisting and Recovery
WI Green Fire, October 29, 2020
On October 29, 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced the delisting of gray wolves from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Species, which will mark the beginning of the next chapter of our long relationship with wolves in the Great Lakes region. As wolves have reached healthy population levels in Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s Green Fire supports the resumption of state and tribal management of wolves in the state. However, current statutory mandates and the outdated 1999 Wisconsin wolf management plan hinder the effective conservation of our wolf population today.
Wolves are culturally significant to Wisconsin’s diverse American Indian Nations and their rights and interests need to be recognized and respected.
Wisconsin’s Green Fire urges the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to immediately resume work on developing a new state wolf conservation plan using the best science and public attitude data available on wolves. We strongly recommend that WDNR reestablish a two-faceted advisory committee structure, described in our full statement. This will allow for an inclusive and transparent wolf governance process that reflects public perceptions and incorporates the latest social and ecological science on wolves in Wisconsin.
Read Wisconsin’s Green Fire’s Full Statement on Wolf Delisting and Recovery here.
Wisconsin Public Radio’s Oct 29, 2020 story on the wolf delisting is available here. WGF’s Science Director, Sarah Wilkins, is interviewed for the story.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal’s Oct 29, 2020 story on the gray wolf delisting is available to read. WGF’s Science Director, Sarah Wilkins, is quoted in this piece.