Information Sought in Ontonagon County Wolf Poaching CaseContact: Debbie Munson Badini 906-226-1352
Agency: Natural Resources
Dec. 3, 2009Department of Natural Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife Service officials are seeking information related to a recent wolf poaching case in Ontonagon County, occurring sometime between Nov.12-16, 2009. The wolf's radio collar was found in the Stony Creek Area of Ontonagon County, east of the old White Pine Mine location.
A reward of up to $6,500 is being offered for information leading to the conviction of the person, or persons, responsible for the killing of this wolf. The DNR's Report All Poaching (RAP) program has donated $500 toward the reward, while the USFWS has offered $5,000. An additional $1,000 is provided by Defenders of Wildlife, an organization dedicated to protecting endangered species. Gray wolves were recently re-listed by the federal government as an endangered species.
"Every wolf that is poached complicates our efforts and the efforts of other Great Lakes states to get wolves off the endangered species list and return management to the state natural resource agencies," said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. "Any help toward closing this case is greatly appreciated. Assistance from the public helps prove the point that Michigan takes wolf management seriously."
Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to call the DNR's RAP line at 800-292-7800, the USFWS at (989) 686-4578, or contact a local DNR conservation officer. Information can be provided anonymously. An online form to report poaching violations is available on the DNR's Web site at
www.michigan.gov/dnr under the Law Enforcement menu.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10371_10402-227323--,00.html
