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Thank you for reading these important updates. We appreciate your support as we educate, advocate and participate on behalf of wolves.
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Midwest Wolf Stewards Meeting
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 | | Chris Albert Nancy Warren |
Midwest Wolf Stewards have met annually since the late 1980s to discuss wolf conservation in the Great Lakes region. Meeting participants include professionals from state and federal agencies, the province of Ontario, tribes, non-governmental organizations, universities and others interested in wolves of the Great Lakes region.
The meeting site is rotated among locations in Minnesota, Michigan, Canada and Wisconsin. This year's meeting was held in Saulte Ste Marie, Ontario, hosted by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Trent University.
Both Nancy Warren, Executive Director & Great Lakes Regional Director and Chris Albert, Great Lakes Adviser represented the National Wolfwatcher Coalition.
Topics of discussion included current wolf populations, wolf depredations, the wolf hunts, wolf taxonomy, the politics of wolf management and local research projects.
As soon as the presentations are available, they will be posted on our website at www.wolfwatcher.org
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Will Voters Be Allowed to Decide the Fate of Michigan Wolves?
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The Michigan Constitution affords individuals the opportunity to challenge new laws by gathering signatures through the veto referendum process. It is also possible for citizens to initiate legislation through a petition process.
In December 2012, Governor Rick Snyder signed into law, Public Act 520, which designated the wolf as a game animal. A coalition of organizations, including the National Wolfwatcher Coalition, supported the effort to challenge this law.
Volunteers collected more than 253,000 signatures from across the state in less than 70 days. The signatures were certified suspending the implementation of PA 520 until voters could decide in the November 2014 election.
However, legislators, with the support of hunting organizations, circumvented the initiative by passing a new law, Public Act 21, signed on May 8, 2013. Public Act 21 rendered the referendum for Public Act 520 meaningless and granted the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) the authority to designate any species (except mourning doves) as a game animal. Previously, only legislators could designate species as game. The NRC, a politically appointed body, with no scientific background, acted quickly. They designated the wolf a game animal and established the 2013 hunting season.
The National Wolfwatcher Coalition joined forces with many other organizations to challenge Public Act 21.
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Keep Michigan Wolves Protected Submitted nearly 230,000 signatures
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We were not able to stop the 2013 wolf hunt, but another nearly 230,000 signatures were collected and a sufficient number of signatures were certified to also place this referendum on the November 2014 ballot.
BOTH LAWS NEED TO BE REJECTED BY VOTERS OR THE OTHER BECOMES EFFECTIVE
BUT, a ballot committee funded by hunting organizations with deep pockets collected signatures advocating for a citizen-initiated law called the "Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act". The law is not science-based and it has nothing to do with conservation. Rather, it is a mirror image of Public Act 21 except it also includes an unnecessary appropriation of $1 million dollars related to Asian Carp. The purpose of the appropriation is to prevent a challenge through the veto referendum process.
It also allows for free licenses for active military personnel (they currently pay $1) We expect their signatures will be certified within the next month.
This is another a blatant attempt to silence the voice of voters. Upon certification of the signatures, the act goes directly to legislators for passage. The Governor's signature is not required to become law.
IT WILL NOT GO TO THE VOTERS
UNLESS LEGISLATORS FAIL TO ACT YOU MUST TAKE ACTION TO INSURE VOTERS HAVE A SAY!
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Action Needed for Michigan Wolves
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DON'T BE SILENCED!
We cannot allow extremist hunting groups to dictate wolf management. It is critical that we contact Michigan legislators. They will be under tremendous pressure to pass the citizen initiated law. Remember they passed Public Act 21 and this new law is nearly identical.
The message must be loud and clear. This is not just about hunting wolves, it is about the right of the people to vote on wildlife decisions. Don't silence the voice of the people.
Michigan residents should contact their State Senator and their State Representative. Tell him or her that the nation is watching. Let the people decide on the "Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act".
Do not intervene.
You believe in the ideals of democracy, one of which is the right to vote. It is important to you that citizens be afforded the right to vote on wildlife issues.
To Find Your State Senator Click Here
To Find Your Representative in the House Click Here
Out of state residents should contact:
Senate Majority Leader, Randy Richardville SenRRichardville@senate.michigan.gov
Senate Minority Leader, Gretchen Whitmer sengwhitmer@senate.michigan.gov
Speaker of the House Jase Bolger
JaseBolger@house.mi.gov
Minority LeaderTim Greimel
TimGreimel@house.mi.gov
The message is simple: As someone who contributes to Michigan's economy through the purchase of Michigan products, you support the right of Michigan voters to decide on the "Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act."
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Wisconsin Wolves Under Attack
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Photo Credit: Gary Jackson
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The Wisconsin DNR demonstrated a flagrant disregard for citizen involvement when they replaced the diverse Wolf Stakeholders Group with the Wolf Advisory Committee.
This relatively new committee will make recommendations to the Natural Resources Board regarding permanent rules for the wolf hunting season structure, develop hunting and trapping quotas and update the Wolf Management Plan.
These are critical wolf management issues and all opinions should be considered, yet all wolf advocacy and conservation groups, including the National Wolfwatcher Coalition, were excluded from the committee, despite requests to join.
The Wolf Advisory Committee no longer represents the interests of most Wisconsinites. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, at least 60% of Wisconsin residents participate in non-hunting outdoor recreation each year generating $11.9 billion in consumer spending and 142K direct Wisconsin jobs. But, these voices have been silenced by those whose goal is to reduce wolf populations through any means possible. The committee should represent a wide range of stakeholder interests.
Nearly all committee members represent hunting or trapping interests even though federal courts have repeatedly upheld that wildlife are a public trust resource whose preservation is in the interest of current and future generations not just hunters.
At the recent meeting, this heavily-staked committee established a quota of 156 wolves (24% harvest rate) to be killed during the upcoming hunting/trapping season.
The 156-wolf hunting/trapping quota will continue to reduce the state's wolf population towards an unscientific management goal of only 350 animals which population models show is unsustainable.
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Photo Credit: Diane Bentivenga
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No doubt hunting organizations will bring pressure upon the DNR and the Natural Resource Board to boost the kill quota to 300.
Following last year's hunting/trapping season, combined with depredation control actions and illegal killings, the Wisconsin wolf population dropped 19%. The estimated wolf population is between 658 and 687, down from about 809-834.
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Speak Up for Wisconsin Wolves
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The next meeting of the Natural Resource Board will be June 24-25. The deadline for submitting comments is Friday, June 20th. 
Stand Up for Wolves!
Send comments to:
Laurie J. Ross, Board Liaison Laurie.Ross@wisconsin.gov
Natural Resource Board Information Suggested Points to make: The 156 wolf hunting/trapping goal shows a total disregard for peer-reviewed scientific data. It is merely an attempt at compromise to appease those who are calling for a kill quota of 300 wolves.
To maintain a stable wolf population, data suggests that the harvest rate be no higher than 8%. No other hunted species in Wisconsin is managed at such low numbers. Due to their complex social structure, the impacts of the wolf hunting/trapping season are unknown and the effects may not be known for some time.
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Your support enables our mission to thrive...
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 | | On Sale $18 + Shipping |
Close Out Sale!
To make room for new inventory, we are having a close out sale.
This shirt cannot be reordered, When they are gone, they are gone!
Limited sizes available on close out items.
Visit the Wolfwatcher Store for details about this and other shirts available for sale.
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New Fund Raising Campaign
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 We have partnered with Bonfire Funds and launched a campaign that ends June 13th. Thank you to artist, Robbie Craig, who has donated his talents and his image, "Wolves of Midnight" to be used in a line of shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts available in a wide array of sizes, including youth.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A SHIRT To see more artwork from Robbie Craig visit www.rcraig.org
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501(c)(3) nonprofit, all volunteer organization
Our mission:
We 'educate, advocate, and participate' for the long term recovery and preservation of wolves based on the best available science and the principles of democracy. We:
- Educate the public about the important role that wolves play in maintaining healthy ecosystems
- Inform the public about challenges to wolf recovery
- Support measures that promote peaceful coexistence with wolves on the landscape
- Educate the public about the issues in all regions and ways it can effectively participate in the democratic process to promote science-based decision-making about wolves.
All donations, no matter the amount, will be appreciated because they will enable us to:
- Provide educational programs, materials and events
- Participate in conferences, seminars, and consultation with other professionals in the fields of wolf biology, research, conservation, eco-tourism and environmental law.
- Secure a Wolfwatcher Legal Fund to sustain potential engagement in litigation that challenges local, state and/or federal policies that affect wolf preservation.
To donate online, please click on the Donate button at the top. To donate by check or money order, please send your donation to our business office at: National Wolfwatcher Coalition, PO Box 161281, Duluth, MN 55816-1281
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