Wolves in the U.P. of Michigan

Through fairly regular polling that we conduct, we have found that many in our community feel there is a disconnect between the residents and hunters in the UP and the DNR. IE, the lack of urgency to resolve the matter or even the initial location choice for their meetings.

The Straits Area Sportsman Club has done its best to be your voice over the past nine months, but now you have the opportunity to be your voice, to share your opinion in your own words. 

The Wolf Management Advisory Council will be meeting for the first time in Ishpeming on August 4th at the River Rock Lanes and Banquet Center from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. This will be the first of many meetings for the Advisory Council to review the 2015 Wolf Management Plan.

We here at the SASC believe that it is essential for you to show up and support Wolf Management in the U.P.  The more opinions expressed, the more views shown, which will help close the gap between the DNR and those of us supporting Wolf Management. That being said, we have been made aware that many anti-Wolf Management supporters are driving up to show their support for protecting wolves by doing nothing. While these anti-wolf management groups tend to distort data and truths, please ensure you treat everyone with respect and avoid any possible confrontations.

 
If you check the StraitsBlog you can read what SASC leaders have been saying when attending the Natural Resource Commission monthly calls.  If you would like to send us comments you can email us at sasc764@gmail.com.

 
*** If you have a wolf issue or encounter it is important to notify the DNR. They need this information for their records to help show wolf problems in the UP go  to the DNR website 'Reporting A Wolf Observation' where you can make a report.  Or call  906-228-6561 .

With June coming to an end there is little to report on the committee activities since they have not met.  The good news is, while later than originally announced, the Wolf Management Advisory Council will meet for the first time August 4th in Ishpeming, not in Lansing as previously thought. We have also been told the 2nd and last Wolf Survey has been sent out and the results will be available at the end of September.

 
If you check the StraitsBlog you can read what SASC leaders have been saying when attending the Natural Resource Commission monthly calls.  If you would like to send us comments you can email us at sasc764@gmail.com.

 
*** If you have a wolf issue or encounter it is important to notify the DNR. They need this information for their records to help show wolf problems in the U.P. Scroll down to find a link to the DNR website 'Reporting A Wolf Observation' where you can make a report. 

 With May coming to an end there has not been much to report on Wolf Management in the Upper Peninsula.

DNR Director, Dan Eichinger, did report at the May NRC meeting the DNR’s Wolf Survey had its mailing and is to have a second mailing soon. We have no idea what the questions are or who is selected or how they are selecting recipients. 

There has been no action on the lawsuit in Oakland County regarding the makeup of the Wolf Management Advisory Council. The Council has yet to have any meeting. We were told on the NRC call they would be meeting soon.

We hear many different rumors but will not report on them. We only want to report facts as we know them to our followers.

If you check the StraitsBlog you can read what SASC leaders have been saying when attending the Natural Resource Commission monthly calls.

If you would like to send us comments you can email us at sasc764@gmail.com.

If you have a wolf issue or encounter it is important to notify the DNR. They need this information for their records to help show wolf problems in the U.P. Scroll down to find a link to the DNR website 'Reporting A Wolf Observation' where you can make a report. 

Since our last update, a lawsuit was filed in Oakland County, Michigan on March 30 which alleges DNR Director Daniel Eichinger skirted statutory requirements when appointing members to the Michigan Wolf Management Advisory Council. 

The suit filed by Karol Miller, President of The 06 Legacy, individually and on behalf of the organization, claims the director "eliminated the conservation appointment" by appointing MUCC Executive Director Amy Trotter, Dick Persinske, and Mike Thorman as the conservation representatives. The lawsuit also challenges the Tribal Representative Miles Falck because he is from Wisconsin. 

The Michigan Attorney General's office will represent the Department of Natural Resources with the DNR presenting materials.

The Wolf Management Advisory Council Meetings will follow the Open Meetings Law, and it appears they will not meet until sometime in May.

Addtionally

Shortly after the Gray Wolf was officially delisted in January there were three lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court of  Northern District of California. 

The three organizations that filed the lawsuits are Natual Resources Defense Council independently, Western Environmental Law Center filed on behalf of Wild Earth Guardians and a coalition of eight other organizations, and Earthjustice filed on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Humane Society of the United States, National Parks Conservation Association and Oregon Wild.

The three suits challenge the delisting on 20 different claims, but basically, they argue the Federal Government has not done enough for the wolf recovery across their former range.

Safari Club International and the NRA together are intervening in the suits to represent the voice of hunters across North America.  While this is frustrating it is not unexpected these groups are well funded and will fight the delisting it in the court system and public opinion with their rhetoric vs sound science.

If you would like to send us comments you can email us at sasc764@gmail.com.

If you have a wolf issue or encounter it is important to notify the DNR. They need this information for their records to help show wolf problems in the U.P. Scroll down to find a link to the DNR website 'Reporting A Wolf Observation' where you can make a report. 

Thursday, March 25, 2021, Amy Trotter, Executive Director of Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and a member of the Wolf Management Plan Advisory Council held a Zoom call with Upper Peninisula affiliated Clubs of MUCC, MUCC Board Members and MUCC Staff.

Amy provided an overview of MUCC’s representation of the groups on the Wolf Management Advisory Council (WMAC) and MUCC’s guiding policies on wolf management. MUCC’s most recent resolution passed at the 2020 Convention, states a goal of 300-400 wolves as a sustainable population and a hunting and trapping season for the entire Upper Peninsula. 

Wolves were delisted on Jan 4, 2021, after which several lawsuits were filed, in Northern California, based on the delisting of the Gray Wolf in the Lower 48 States. The DNR feels the legal status should be more permanently settled, especially given the long history of legal challenges to delisting decisions and the resulting shifting status of wolves. 

An orientation meeting will be sometime in April for the Council to meet to discuss how the Council will work and a meeting schedule.

This group will again meet again in April after the orientation meeting occurs.  Check back in for any updates. If you would like to read the 2015 Wolf Management Plan check further down the page and click on the 2015 Wolf Management Plan tab. 

If you would like to send us comments you can email us at sasc764@gmail.com .

On a side note if you have a wolf issue or encounter please notify the DNR. They need this information for their records to help show wolf problems in the U.P. Scroll down to find a link to the DNR website 'Reporting A Wolf Observation' where you can make a report.