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