Of 16,672 applications filed in Wisconsin this year, DNR will
issue 2,510 wolf hunting permits. Maintaining the 10-to-1 permit-to-quota ratio set in
2012, 251 of the animals are permitted to be killed in 2013. Wolves are
authorized to be harvested from six hunting zones within the state.
Dan Ashe, director of Fish and Wildlife, says the resurgence of
the wolf population since federal protection was put in place over 30 years ago
has led to one of the greatest success stories in conservation history. With
exception of several smaller packs in the Southwest to remain under federal
protection, the government will begin to allow broader hunting of wolves.
Once numbering in the millions throughout North America, the gray
wolf was essentially extinct by 1980. U.S. policy in the 1800s and laws
allowing the killing of the wolves to protect property and livestock through
modern times decimated their presence. Efforts to revive the species were put
in place over 30 years ago, restricting the hunting of the animals in much of
the country. Today, the number of gray wolves in the Great Lakes region and the
Rocky Mountains is believed to be over 5,000, with similar populations growing
in other areas of the country.
Under increasing pressure,
the Obama administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife are defending their
decision to limit federal protection. As the number of wolves has increased
over time conflict with humans has become more common. Ranchers and farmers
have reported significant increases in problems with wolves, and they argue the
numbers need maintaining.