Too many wolves in state to be classified as endangered

To the Editor:

It is disheartening to have wolves relisted as endangered in Michigan. It is equally disheartening to have wolf protectionist groups agreeing among themselves that wolves could be reclassified as threatened. Endangered status implies the potential for extinction. Threatened implies that minor changes in the population could lead to endangered status and the potential for extinction.

The 2014 winter wolf survey indicated the presence of a minimum of 636 wolves occupying suitable habitat in the U.P. Studies in the West, Alaska and Canada indicate that following the whelping of pups in April, wolf populations more than double. Thus the actual wolf population throughout the spring, summer and fall months would have exceeded 1,272 wolves in 2014. When wolves were first listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a recovery goal of 100 animals for Michigan/Wisconsin was presumed to provide for a viable population. Michigan set a goal of 200 wolves for five consecutive years for them to no longer be considered endangered or threatened. It has been 13 years since that goal was reached.

Wolf numbers continue to increase. We have a declining deer population.

The MDNR published the declaration, “UP deer herd lowest in 40 years.” Wolves are not the sole cause of declining deer numbers, but they are contributing to the decline, unless they have become vegetarians. Current high wolf numbers may delay deer herd recovery. Deer are the primary prey species for wolves in Michigan.

Michigan’s wolf management plan calls for sustaining adequate deer numbers for wolves. The plan also calls for providing huntable numbers of deer for sportsmen. Wolf numbers are not going to be regulated; consequently their impact on the deer herd will not be altered. Michigan’s deer hunters are certain to take it on the chin. As the MDNR cows to the desires of the wolf protectionist groups, it will limit sportsmen hunting opportunities. Some deer hunts will become more restrictive or more drastically they could implement a lottery to determine who gets a deer license.

There has been a significant amount of press directed at reducing wolf conflicts. Always the narrative has to do with livestock and pet mortality. The discussion never deals with the impact that wolves have on species that are important to sportsmen. Sportsmen need to speak up or be prepared to take up bowling or golf.

Fred Kirchner, Wakefield

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Wakefield