Gray Wolf Walking on the Snow. Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
In Wisconsin, concern over the controversial annual Wisconsin wolf hunt led state officials to halt the event indefinitely. Animal conservationists believe that the wolf population of Wisconsin, an estimated 1,000 wolves, is too fragile to risk the mass killing of wolves. Hunters and especially local farmers argue that the hunt is necessary because wolves reduce deer populations and prey on livestock.
The legal conflict is a culmination of past conflict between conservationists and hunters. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, wolf hunting events were held. In late 2014, the gray wolf was listed as an endangered species by the federal government. However, on January 4, 2021, the gray wolf became delisted again, allowing for the annual hunt to begin once again. But last year’s wolf hunt in February was quickly halted by officials when hunters far exceeded their wolf hunting quota. 216 wolves were killed in only three days, almost 100 more than the quota of 119, concerning many animal conservationists.
Graph of Wisconsin Gray Wolf Populations from 1980-2020. Source: Wisconsin DNR.
Wisconsin planned to hold a wolf hunt this year as well. But in the fall of 2021, the annual hunt drew the attention of six Native American Ojibwe leaders. For many, the wolf is more than just an animal worth protecting for conservation reasons. Ojibwe tradition considers the gray wolf, named ma'iingan in the Ojibwe language, as sacred. As Marvin Defoe, a Red Cliff Tribe representative says, “Ma'iingan are our brothers. The legends and stories tell us as brothers we walk hand in hand together. What happens to the Ma’iingan happens to humanity.”
Rising legal pressure and controversy surrounding the wolf hunt canceled the event two weeks before the season opener. On October 15th, 2021, a Wisconsin judge ruled the wolf hunt to be unconstitutional, but a final permanent decision from the state is still unclear. In any case, there will not be a wolf hunt in the winter of 2022.
The controversy over the wolf hunt raises interesting questions on ecology and human intervention. Although the gray wolf’s IUCN conservation status is Least Concern, the potential ramifications of annual hunts could be detrimental to the animal ecosystem in Wisconsin.
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