Wisconsin Farm Bureau supports wolf delisting bill

Madison – The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation supports the Gray Wolf Delisting Bill, H.R. 424, co-authored in the House of Representatives by Congressman Sean Duffy and Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and S. 164 introduced in the Senate and co-authored by Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin, Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi from Wyoming and Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota.

The proposed Gray Wolf Delisting legislation would reinstate the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) order to remove the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes and Wyoming from the federal Endangered Species List. It would also provide legal clarity for the gray wolf’s status on the Endangered Species list.

“Wisconsin’s most recent population estimation of almost 900 gray wolves far exceeds the state Department of Natural Resources’ targeted management goal of 350,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Jim Holte.

The number of wolves in Wisconsin also exceeds the FWS criteria to federally delist wolves. Wisconsin’s management plan has successfully followed a science-based approach designed to maintain the prescribed wolf population of 350 since 2012.

Although wolf numbers in Wisconsin have long recovered past the point of needing federal protection, lawsuits from animal rights groups have kept this issue in a back-and-forth legal limbo. The latest legal ruling means Wisconsin farmers do not have the authority to protect their livestock from wolves, even as they are being attacked.

“Wolves have become consistent threats to livestock,” Holte added. “Farmers should be able to protect their livestock from wolves during hunting or trapping seasons as well as during the act of attacking livestock.” 

Experts at the FWS have determined Wisconsin’s wolf population recovered to a level that no longer requires it to be listed as endangered. Management of the wolf population should therefore be restored to the Wisconsin DNR.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau would like to thank those lawmakers who have supported and introduced gray wolf delisting legislation: Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN), Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI), Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Congressman James Sensenbrenner, Congressman Glenn Grothman, Congressman Mike Gallagher and Congressman Ron Kind.