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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)
The Minnesota Wolf Alliance was formed as a collective of concerned nations and individuals to ensure the survival of the wolf using ethical and respectful management options. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is in the process of de-listing the wolf from the Endangered Species List in Minnesota and will turn management over to the state. The state of Minnesota has always claimed that the wolf is not endangered and does not want to manage unless they can have a recreational sports season. We must all work together to seek an answer on how wolf management can recognize all groups and maintain a respectful place for the wolf. What happens to the wolf, happens to us.
- To ensure equal representation at the state round table meetings by all parties, including Environmental groups and Native AmericanTribes with both Traditional Leaders and tribal DNR representatives.
- To ensure a management plan that does not include public hunting, trapping or harvesting of the wolf.
This is a global issue and the state of Minnesota has a responsibility to make a plan that serves all of the world and not just Minnesota. We have in northern Minnesota the single largest protected, non-hunted wolf population in the entire world. This is a tremendous asset to the state both ecologically and economically and must be preserved for future generations in an ethical manner.
We do not believe that wearing wolf fur in the 90's is fashionable or acceptable, except in the cultural or spiritual needs of the First Nations People. We believe that just under one quarter of the wolf population is currently being killed both legally and illegally in Minnesota each year. If we add "sport" hunting and trapping it could bring the total mortality to approximately one half of the wolf population.
Dr. Gordon Haber has challenged the scientific justifications for wolf hunting and trapping. He has
all the required academic credentials with 31 years studying wolves. Haber reminds us that wolves are
"ultra social" animals with extremely complex behaviors. Those behaviors are critical to the long
term survival of the species. He warns that heavy hunting or trapping is disruptive to the stability of
the family, where the pups stay for up to 30 percent of their lives. If there are not enough older
wolves left to teach the young the necessary skills needed to survive, this could be devastating not
only to the younger wolves but to survival of the species as well.
There has never been a documented death or attack on a human by a wolf in the wild in this country.
In looking back, the settlers brought their fears and myths of the wolf with them from Europe. The
American wolf paid a terrible price for over 300 years, which almost lead to extinction. The fear
perpetuated by this myth has permeated the consciousness of those who should know better.
We question experts that say the wolf does not need critical habitat to survive. The first
purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to protect the eco-system that the species depend upon.
We believe that global warming and climate change will affect the critical habitat of the wolf
and humans. Recreational usage of this habitat has also drastically increased. Voyager National
Park usage by snowmobiles alone, has increased from 10,000 to 40,000 since 1987. Jim Schaberl,
the staff biologist for Voyagers National Park said, "We have monitored increased use in the park
and found that wildlife will avoid or are displaced by human activity. The cumulative effects of
repeated disruptions over a winter season can reach a level where it negatively affects an animal
especially in times of severe winter weather or nutritional stress." The wolf is dependent upon
large areas of undisturbed land, which is why it has survived and done so well in our state. It
is not prudent to delist a threatened
species like the wolf until all environmental impacts have been presented and studied.
We question the DNR statistics that cite the wolf population as 2,000 to 2,200. We believe
that the methods for counting wolves do not seem to be accurate due to estimates, computer
trends and unreliable surveys. At most, only five-hundred wolves have been collared since
1951. We believe that a reliable and accurate population count from this low number of
collared wolves may be highly over-estimated.
We believe the wolf is often blamed for losses that are actually caused by other predators or
deaths due to natural causes. According to Animal Damage Controls 1997 figures, only one percent
of the farms in the wolf range area suffer depredation from wolves and only a little over one
half of all reported wolf kills of livestock are actually attributable to the wolf. In 1997,
according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, a total of $39,309.68 was paid out for
livestock destroyed by the wolf. Of that amount, $14,439.58 was paid out to only three
turkey growers, the balance of $24,870.10 was paid for the loss of seventy-one cattle,
ten sheep and one horse. An additional $21,425.51 was paid out to four farmers for elk
damage. Out of the 8,000 farms in the wolf range, only fifty-five farms suffered losses
from the wolf according to Minnesota Department of AgricultureÕs statistics. We strongly
recommend educational programs for those farmers that are continually having problems with depredation.
We believe that most often wolves prey on the old and those weakened by disease. This
ultimately creates a healthier deer population. Dave Schad, a DNR wild life program leader,
reported that the deer have suffered two bad winters in a row, causing their populations to
decline. This year could spell trouble for the wolf.
- To ensure that the state of Minnesota recognizes and understands the important cultural and spiritual role of the wolf for the First Nation People.
- To ensure a broad-based educational program explaining the truth about the role of the wolves in relationship to humans and to our eco-system.
- To ensure that environmental studies reflect accurately the wolves' critical habitat.
- To use the arts and visual images of the wolf that reflect their true nature as teachers and relatives.
The Wolf is a native and ancient citizen of the State of Minnesota. We have the largest native wolf population in the lower forty eight-states. We are glad the wolf is doing well in Minnesota. We must make sure it always has our protection.
Minnesota Wolf Alliance
PO Box 6351
Minneapolis, MN 55406
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