DNR & Farmers Upset at Wolf Court Ruling
DNR & Farmers Upset at Wolf Court Ruling Save Email Print
Posted: 5:58 PM Oct 6, 2008
Last Updated: 10:54 PM Oct 6, 2008
Reporter: Sarah Rasmussen
Email Address: sarah.rasmussen@weau.com

A | A | A

The Department of Natural Resources says it's looking to get a permit from the federal government to allow staff to kill wolves that are causing problems.

Last week a federal judge ordered wolves be put back on the endangered species list, and that's not just upsetting the DNR, but also local farmers.

The DNR wardens say it makes it harder for them to control the attacks and farmers say they're worried about their livestock.

The Imgrund's say all of their animals are important, so when a wolf killed one of their calves in the spring, their concern for safety grew.

"As a mother with three young boys, I am definitely worried that, as wildlife that isn't hunted, that are protected, get more and more brave,” says Julie Imgrund.

At the time of the attack, the DNR gave the Imgrund's a permit to shoot any wolf that attacks their livestock. But now that the animal is back on the endangered species list, that permit has been eliminated.

"Basically what we can do in these situations is come in and trap and remove the wolf,” says DNR Regional Wildlife Supervisor Kris Belling.

She says it's their duty to make sure species are protected, and since there are only a few bad apples in the wolf pack, killing them was the easiest way to control them.

"We've got enough checks and balances in place to make sure that the wolves that are removed are causing problems,” Belling says. “And that it's not going to be a number of wolves that would have any impact on the population at all.”

And farmers just hope something logical can be done to improve the situation.

"It's really unfortunate that some judge very removed from the situation makes these decisions based on obviously not a very good understanding of what we're really dealing with here,” says Imgrund.

Belling says, although the DNR doesn't agree with the ruling, you shouldn't take matters into your own hands.

Right now, killing a wolf is a federal offense. If you're caught and convicted, you could face fines up to $100,000 and one year in jail.

Related Stories
Three Arrested for Attempted Arson

MN Voter Registration Hits A New High

Driver Identified Who Hit Boy

Friday's Cookbook Winners: Chocolate Breads, Puddings & Mousse

McCain-Palin Target Southeastern Wisconsin

Dow Jones Loses 800 Points Before Closing 350 Down

Monday's Cookbook Winners: Chocolate Breads, Puddings & Mousse

Wolves Back On Endangered Species List

More Stories
WEAU 13 News Director John Hoffland passes away

Share Your Memories of "Hoffland"

Offensive fireworks yanked from shelves

Picnics and Protests Highlight Area Fourth of July Festivities

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: mark on Oct 7, 2008 at 07:26 AM
I would guess the DNR personnel are very busy and that if it took 6 or 8 months to get to the case of a dead wolf, it would be understandable....