One side of the argumentBy Brad Soroka, WLUC TV6
January 12, 2010NEGAUNEE -- Wolves have been in the headlines lately, and everyone seems to have an opinion on what needs to be done about the growing wolf population in the Upper Peninsula.
Here is one side of the argument:
"There is no biological, ecological or frankly, sociological reason to keep wolves on the Endangered Species List. Those dollars should be spent on species in need of protection," offered Russ Mason, the DNR's Wildlife Division Chief.
Three points Mason wants to make about the U.P.'s wolf population:
1. They really aren't an endangered species here. In fact, they've been recovered for more than a decade.
2. The state has no authority over wolves but does have a plan if they ever do get authority.
3. To get that authority, the state needs everyone's help.
"We need to keep pressure on the Federal Government. And of course, the 'antis'--those who would keep the wolves protected forever--are well funded. Lawsuits are expensive. It's simply beyond our reach to fight the big dollars," said Gary Modlin, President of the U.P. Whitetails Association of Marquette County.
Mason agrees:
"This delisting effort has nothing to do with biology. It's got everything to do with fund-raising. It's got everything to do with money."
Then there are the people who want to take matters into their own hands. Some say that they're so fed up with wolves, if they saw one in the woods, they'd kill it.
"Folks need to understand that while those acts clearly reflect the anger and the frustration that people feel, every time a wolf is shot, that puts us one step further away from the goal line," Mason said.
"We need to be able to take a hands-on approach and manage the wolves, protecting them, but managing them so that they're not running the show. And right now, wolves are winning the battle," Modlin added.
This is obviously only one side of the argument. Check back with UpperMichigansSource.com frequently to hear from those opposed to delisting wolves.
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=400640
