Feds investigating Midwest wolf killings

[The Straight Story]

Feds investigating Midwest wolf killings


MILWAUKEE, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Federal officials said they are investigating the killing of 16 gray wolves in three Midwestern states, including Wisconsin, where they are federally protected.

Four of the wolves wore radio collars and were being monitored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the wolves were killed during November and December in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

"Wolf-human encounters are increasing every year, and outdoor enthusiasts need to approach these encounters responsibly," said Greg Jackson, special agent in charge of the Midwest region of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Some hunters blame wolves for the decreasing number of deer available, but DNR officials say recent harsh winters, hunters and hunting regulations have done more to reduce deer numbers.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/01/14/Feds-investigating-Midwest-wolf-killings/UPI-52781263519425/

[gateley]

1. "Some hunters blame wolves for the decreasing number of deer available.."

Has Palin been seen in the vicinity? Any helicopters zooming around?

[TheMightyFavog]

2. This is a big, big issue in my neck of the woods.

I has to do with the decrease in the number of deer harvested in the annual gun season over the past couple of years, and a lot of hunters out there are pissed.

Take a look at these LTTEs...

http://www.peshtigotimes.net/?id=12968

Like I said, a lot of the local deer hunters are pissed off because they didn't get a deer this year, when in years past they always got one, and they're blaming the reintroduction of wolves. They fail to understand the DNR's job is to manage and stabilize the deer population not to guarantee that hunters get a deer every year.

[knitter4democracy]

3. I haven't heard anyone here blaming wolves or coyotes.

Everyone here's blaming the weather--bad hunting year. They happen.

[TheMightyFavog]

5. They blame the DNR here for everything in WI.

T here's even been posts on local message boards encouraging locals to take the "Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up" approach to wolves on their poroperty.

[zbiker]

6. wolves and bears oh my

definitely hasn't just been the weather here (yellowstone area), the last two years it has really gotten progressively worse as far as game hunting, i see now the wg&f have decided to start taking count on how many of the lower scale predators are suffering due to the predator stress on the ecosystem. kinda makes sense, if you take two keystone predators like wolves and grizzlies, protect them so they can over populate,then steadily watch as they eat themselves out of house and home it might be a good idea to check and see if the coyotes,mountain lions, foxes,owls and hawks,martins and such are suffering from lack of food as well.
heck we just had an incident this fall with a young griz sow just west of powell approx 80 miles east of yellowstone), she had been forced to come out of yellowstone and hunt for food, she looked terrible considering she was otherwise healthy.
yep, wolves in Yellowstone, ya just gotta love the concept-yea right !!!!

[izquierdista]

4. Sarah!