On September 25, 2019, Representatives Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn. and Pete Stauber, R-Minn. introduced the Gray Wolf State Management Act of 2019 that would return management of the Western Great Lakes gray wolves to state control in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
The Management of gray wolves was transferred from the state
to the federal level following two 2014 U.S. District Court decisions
that reinstated gray wolves under the protections of the Endangered
Species Act. Currently,
Minnesota's gray wolf population is estimated over 2,650, with the national
wolf population estimated over 6,000. MSCA has been instrumental in working for members to help support the
of desisting the gray wolves & returning control to the state level. MSCA would like to thank its members for the comments and testimonies submitted.
Livestock producers, hunters, and environmental activists from around the country met in Brainerd, MN on June, 25th for the first and only public hearing on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposal to delist the gray wolf. Farmers, ranchers, hunters and wildlife advocates filled the Franklin arts center in Brainerd. This was an opportunity for the public to testify on the removal of the grey wolf from the endangered species list, which would turn management over to states. Currently it is only legal to kill a wolf under the endangered species act if it's threatening a human life. Federal officials scheduled the public hearing to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species act because they no longer consider the wolf endangered. This would make them possibly available for hunting and trapping. The hearing took four hours and heard from dozens of witnesses, including ranchers who explained the impacts of gray wolves on their operation. Cattlemen from all over the state and a few from other states drove to provide comments that support the delisting rule and outnumbered those who opposed the rule. The NCBA Beltway Beef podcast team attended the hearing and interviewed a few MNSCA Members about the negative impact of the gray wolf on their cattle herds. For those that were unable to attend the meeting, NCBA collected comments from members through July 15th in support of delisting the gray wolf & returning control to the state level. Thank you to everyone who attended the public hearing, testified and submitted comments. While some of us may not have gray wolves in our area, it is important to uphold the integrity of the endangered species act and speak up for cattlemen across our nation.
MN State Cattlemen’s Association, President Mike Landuyt “The Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association supports efforts to delist the grey wolf in the state of Minnesota. We believe the wolf population in Minnesota has recovered and cattlemen in our state support managing their population on a state level."
Posted: October 2, 2019
