ELECT OFFICIALS WHO PRIORITIZE PROTECTING WOLVES : FORCECHANGE
BY LAURA LEITCH
Target: Wisconsin voters
Goal: Commend voters for protecting wolves and push for elected officials who also protect wolves
In a survey from the United States Humane Society about protecting wolves from trophy hunters and trappers, Wisconsin public voted 8-1 to protect them. 85 percent also oppose using packs of dogs to track down wolves. Wisconsin Legislature has struggled with votes on wolf protection, but the public seems to be on the side of the animal.
In 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed wolves from the Endangered Species list and later approved a bill to trap and kill them. The wolf population is only around 800 individual animals in the entire state of Wisconsin, so this is a blow to the fragile ecosystem.
On June 26, the Natural Resources Board voted on a proposed increase on the quota of wolves allowed to be trapped.
The quota would go from 201 in 2012 to 275 in 2013.
The Natural Resources Board received 1,439 letters from the public who opposed the quota increase, and not even one that supported it. However, the Natural Resources Board rubber stamped the bill, with one member of the vote, William Bruins, saying “God created homo sapiens to be in charge of controlling wildlife populations.”
Clearly, the elected officials do not agree with their voters.
79 percent of the Wisconsin public also said they would support legislation to prevent private citizens from owning wild animals as pets. Wisconsin is one of six states without provisions for protecting animals and residents from the risks of owning a wild animal.
In February 2013, the Humane Society of the United States and other wildlife protection groups plan to file a lawsuit to restore federal protections for Great Lakes wolves. Urge Wisconsin citizens to elect officials who prioritize protecting wolves.
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