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Editor's Note: In 1998 the International Wolf Center invited concerned organizations to submit a position statement on the status of wolves
for distribution on its web site. A new request for current statements has gone out to these and other organizations and statements will
be updated as they are received. (return to list of Organizations)
WHEREAS The Eastern Timberwolf has been totally protected by federal mandate for over 20 years during
which time its population and range has expanded well beyond the goals stated in the most recent
(1992) version of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Recovery Plan; and
WHEREAS The most current scientific research indicates that wolves have the reproductive potential
to increase their populations to the point where they are a significant threat to deer populations
and a serious hazard to domestic livestock and pets as their range expands to areas of greater human
population density; and
WHEREAS This expansion of the wolf population and range has led to seriously decreased public
tolerance of wolves within Minnesota's wolf range; and
WHEREAS The Minnesota DNR has an excellent and proven track record of protecting and managing
sensitive predator populations by means of carefully regulated and monitored hunting and/or
trapping seasons as evidenced by the present status of the black bear and fisher.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minnesota Conservation Federation at its Annual Assembly
September 5, 6, 7, 1997 meeting in St. Cloud, Minnesota, go on record as being in favor of
returning management of the wolf to the Minnesota DNR as anticipated in 1999.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Minnesota Conservation Federation go on record in favor of
carefully regulated and monitored public hunting and trapping of wolves to assure continued
public support to maintain the population and range of the wolf in Minnesota consistent
with the population goals in the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Timber Wolf Recovery Plan of 1992.
The Minnesota Conservation Federation is a statewide association of affiliated sportsmen's clubs and
individual members with a strong conservation ethic. We have approximately 6,500 members and are
the Minnesota Affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. Our mission is to serve as a clearinghouse
and educational resource for the common concerns of the statewide membership and encourage public
interest and responsibility in natural resource issues.
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