“If you haven’t already heard, Michigan citizens had their voices snuffed out when it came to a wolf hunt in their state. Over 250,000 residents sent in their signatures to oppose a wolf hunt in their state — that was 150,000 more than they were required for the initiative to be placed on the ballot. Unfortunately, the state turned around and passed a law that gives the Natural Resources Commission the ability to designate animals as game – on its own, with no public input. The state basically told voters that their voices on the ballot wouldn’t matter — if people voted against a wolf hunt, it was just going to show what the general population thought. This isn’t just wrong for the wolves and other wildlife, this is a threat to voters everywhere — when it comes to everything. For the first time in U.S. history, Democracy and public input was silenced.
Michigan residents are now trying for a second ballot measure which would challenge Senate Bill 288, which is the bill that snuffed the public voices the first time.
Minnesota is now trying to pull the same nonsense as Michigan.
In 2012, Minnesota’s wolves were removed from the Endangered Species Act. The state had long known that wolves in the area would eventually be delisted, and regulated hunting was always in their management plan. However, the DNR was supposed to have a five year moratorium after delisting in order to study the wolf population more closely. This would help determine what toll the legal take of wolves by ranchers would have on the population — without a trophy hunt. Unfortunately, in 2011 when delisting became imminent after the budget bill rider, Minnesota DNR threw out the moratorium. The DNR announced its plans to hold a wolf hunt in a press release, and then held an internet questionnaire asking citizens whether or not they supported the hunt. 75% of citizens voted no. Sound familiar? Yet another state sees that the wolves are a valued and integral part of their culture, but decides that the input is just sentimental. Minnesota killed 413 wolves last season despite several groups trying to stop the hunt.
Those groups were told they could come back this year with new litigation. Sadly, Minnesota too has passed laws that prevent standings in court challenges. Both Howling for Wolves and the Center for Biological Diversity were denied their day in court to protect wolves. It is no longer just about protecting our nation’s wildlife and heritage, but the rights of citizens too.”
**Special thanks to “Project Wolf” for providing this information! (http://WWW.PROJECTWOLF.ORG .)
The Wolf Preservation Blog 