Wisconsin hunters kill 216 wolves in less than 60 hours, sparking uproar

Guardian ^

[SJackson]

Kills quickly exceeded statewide limit, forcing the state to end the hunting season early

Hunters and trappers in Wisconsin killed 216 gray wolves last week during the state’s 2021 wolf hunting season – more than 82% above the authorities’ stated quota, sparking uproar among animal-lovers and conservationists, according to reports.

The kills all took place in less than 60 hours, quickly exceeding Wisconsin’s statewide stated limit of 119 animals.

As a result, Wisconsin’s department of natural resources ended the season, which was scheduled to span one week, four days early.

While department officials were reportedly surprised by the number of gray wolves killed, they described the population as “robust, resilient” and expressed confidence in managing the numbers “properly going forward”.

Most of the animals were killed by hunters who used “trailing hounds”, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The state’s overkill was exacerbated by Wisconsin law that mandates 24-hour notice of season closure, rather than immediate notification.

Natural resources department officials also sold 1,547 permits this season, about 13 hunters or trappers per wolf under the quota’s target number. This equated to twice as many permits as normal – and marked the highest ratio of any season so far.

State authorities had a total culling goal of 200 wolves, in an attempt to stabilize their population. As Native American tribes claimed a quota of 81 wolves, this left 119 for the state-licensed trappers and hunters. Because the tribes consider wolves sacred, they typically use their allotment to protect, not kill, them.

[Dr. Franklin]

Most of the animals were killed by hunters who used “trailing hounds”, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

I hope there was a large pack of them. If these were fox hound type dogs, a pack of hungry wolves could eat a few of them.

[Qiviut]

Wolves would be a natural solution to the epidemic of little yappy dogs.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Actually, coyotes, not wolves, do take care of a lot of yappy little dogs & cats (aka “coyote candy”). Coyotes also hang out around and in human-inhabited areas, whereas wolves generally do not. There are even coyotes that have come in open sliding doors & grabbed small dogs out of a house - small dogs unsupervised in yards are easy prey. We have coyotes around here and I no longer see the neighbor’s mostly feral cats .... I think there’s one left.

[nobamanomore]

If they killed that many that quickly they are too numerous and they should have killed 500

[dsc]

“Because the tribes consider wolves sacred”

Road apples. They’re just taking advantage of white guilt.

[School of Rational Thought]

Then we need more wolves; get them involved in addressing the overpopulation of barking dogs.

Coyotes welcome too.

;-)