News
Feds de-list gray wolf again
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is again de-listing the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List.
The wolf was delisted before, and then put back on the list after environmental groups convinced a federal judge to reverse the order in December of 2014. Before that, states including Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin could manage wolf populations.
Thursday’s decision by federal wildlife officials is being praised by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Association of Conservation Districts, and the American Farm Bureau along with some Great Lakes Congressional members.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tells Brownfield the effective date for delisting would be January 4th, 2021. Katie Grant with the DNR says wolves will continue to be federally protected and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service until January 4th, meaning farmers cannot protect their livestock from wolf attacks until then. She says DNR is consulting with legal counsel and would welcome the responsibility of again managing wolves in the state.
