Michigan wolf hunting referendum

The story behind the wolf hunting proposals on the Nov. 4 ballot could be a modern-day fairy tale – sometimes the wolf is the villain and sometimes the victim.

Michigan´s voters may write the ending.

It starts in 2012 when the Upper Peninsula wolf population was removed from the endangered species list after making a comeback from near extinction due to bounty hunters. New litters of puppies thrived and healthy packs developed in the remote wilderness.

At the time there were 687 wolves; their release a testament to preservation efforts.

Almost immediately, locals started calling for hunting. Reports of livestock being eaten or mutilated increased. Incidents of dogs being killed by wolves made the news.

“We need to make wolves more wary of humans,” said Drew Youngedyke, public relations manager Michigan United Conservation Clubs.

There have been no reported attacks on humans.

Although no longer an endangered species, and wolf hunting was banned, it was legal for farmers to shoot and kill problem wolves they found on their property. Michigan also compensates farmers for livestock losses due to wolves.

In fall 2012, the Michigan Legislature authorized the Natural Resource Commission to manage wolves and establish wolf hunting seasons.

But Keep Michigan Wolves Protected says the Legislature overstepped its boundaries and cut the public out of the process. In early 2013 it collected enough signatures to put Proposal 14-2 on the ballot, on whether to designate wolf as game and schedule wolf hunting seasons.

“If citizens disagree (with legislation) they can put it on the ballot for a veto referendum, to veto legislation or enact it,” said Jill Fritz, director of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected and the state director of the Humane Society of the United States. “We wanted to place that law on hold.”

Then the Legislature passed a second bill allowing the NRC to designate wolves as a game species “on their own without voter oversight or legislative oversight,” Fritz said. “At that point we decided on a second referendum as well.”

The first hunt, in November 2013, allowed 43 wolves to be taken but only 22 were killed. Michigan allows still hunting and baiting. No dogs are allowed but the MUCC is advocating allowing traps in the next hunt.

“It’s a foothold trap,” Youngedyke said. “It has steel jaws but they don’t have teeth. It’s like a handcuff. It has swivels on it so they can move around. When the trapper comes up to them, he can dispatch them cleanly and quickly.”

But the wolf population showed a decline outside of the hunt, down to 658 last year. A Department of Natural Resources study over last winter put the wolf population at 636.

A 2014 wolf hunt wasn’t scheduled because hunting was frozen until voters can weigh in Tuesday.

Wolf hunting isn’t necessary, according to Fritz.

“It’s a trophy hunt,” she said. “It’s a species that’s just recovering.”

“We’re OK with wolves being in the UP, they belong there, they’re part of the ecosystem there," Youngedyke said.

He said the focus is to control the population in three zones where efforts were not effective.

But this summer the pendulum swung again, when hunting advocates collected 300,000 signatures to enact what’s called a citizen-initiated bill. It passed in the Senate and the House in August, automatically becoming law. It gives the NRC the authority to decide which animals can be hunted as game.

The law takes effect in March or April 2015.

So if you’re voting next Tuesday, “it’s a moot point,” said Youngedyke.

The NRC has the authority and will be moving forward with a wolf hunt for management purposes next year.

“It’s not moot, the citizens of the state are voting newly enacted legislation up or down,” said Fritz. “We strongly believe this initiative that they passed is unconstitutional, and we will be taking it to court to overturn it before it becomes effective next spring.”

She said the state Constitution says legislation should have a single subject. The citizen-initiated law combines management of response to invasive aquatic species with providing free hunting, fishing and trap ping licenses for active military personnel.

“Wolves are vital to a healthy ecosystem as the apex predator,” said Fritz. “They’re vital for controlling the deer population, beavers, many other prey species as well.”

So who is the bad guy? The wolf or the hunter? Do we need to hunt wolves to protect people and property? Or are hunters looking for a notch on their belt?

“Many hunters signed our referendum, reiterating while they are very proud of their ability to fill their freezers with venison each year, they can’t imagine why anyone would want to hunt a wolf,” Fritz said.

“Nobody eats wolves.”

Youngedyke’s response?

“But they do eat cows and wolves eat cows,” he said. “There are many reasons for hunting, food is one of them, so is fur, so is population management, so is human safety, so is protection of property.”