Michigan House Hoping To Urge DNR To Release Wolves In Lower Peninsula

Michigan government officials are attempting to get the DNR to take wolves from the Upper Peninsula and release them in the Lower Peninsula.

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Michigan's Upper Peninsula Wolf Population Is Strong

Since 1974, gray wolves have been protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Michigan's goal of wolves for the Upper Peninsula was originally 200 but now there are close to 700 that roam the U.P.

There is an estimated 136 wolfpacks in the U.P. with about four to five animals in each pack. There are also about 28 wolves that are roaming Isle Royale in order to help manage the moose population there.

Reintroducing wolves in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has been a huge success. It makes sense in the U.P. since there is so much vast terrain for the animals to thrive with minimal contact with humans. That doesn't mean all the farmers with livestock are thrilled about it.

Michigan House Urging DNR to Release Wolves in Lower Peninsula

I'm always skeptical when an idea comes from the Michigan government versus the Department of Natural Resources which actually specializes in the study of Michigan wolves.

My buddy Curt, who has lived in the Upper Peninsula for over 30 years, asked me the other day if I had heard about the possibility of wolves getting released in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. I had not, but did a little research and found out about a resolution in the house hoping to get passed to get the DNR to take wolves from the U.P. and put some in the northern part of the L.P.

According to WLUC, Michigan state Rep. Greg Markkanen is the one that proposed the resolution to move wolves from the U.P. and re-establish them in the lower peninsula. Markkanen said,

Public support for wolves has historically been high among Michigan's Lower Penisula residents. I've heard it from Lower Peninsula residents themselves, they often express envy in the UP's privilege to live side-by-side with wolves.

That has to be one of the dumbest quotes I have ever seen. To think of farmers with livestock, families with small kids and animals wanting to live side by side with wolves is ridiculous. This sounds more like someone has gotten campaign funds from auto insurance companies. You have to ask yourself, why wasn't this the DNR's idea? The DNR is the one who is supposed to be looking out for our wildlife and their needs.

The coyotes have already done enough damage to Michigan's small game and deer populations not to mention livestock, and adding wolves is not going to help turn any of that around but make it worse and cause more problems for farmers, hunters, and families. This is another bad idea from a politician who should be more concerned with creating Michigan jobs, lowering taxes, lowering healthcare costs, and fixing the state's infrastructure than pushing ideas from auto insurance companies and their lobbyists.