Michigan wolf seasson suspended

[Emily]

from the Detroit News
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2013 ... ut-on-hold

May 22, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Hunting of gray wolves in Michigan's U.P. put on hold
Chad Livengood
Detroit News Lansing Bureau
22 Comments

Lansing — A planned hunt of gray wolves in the Upper Peninsula has been put on hold — for now — after the law authorizing the harvest was suspended Wednesday pending a statewide referendum vote in November 2014.

The Board of State Canvassers determined Wednesday the group Keep Michigan Wolves Protected turned in more than the minimum 161,305 signatures required to get the issue on the ballot.

The referendum on whether Michigan should allow wolf hunting will be placed before voters in the November 2014 general election, suspending the current statute, state elections director Chris Thomas said.

Anticipating the wolf hunting law would be suspended, the Legislature recently passed a separate law authorizing the Natural Resources Commission to designate animals as hunting game, including wolves.

The NRC last week authorized a limited hunt this fall of 43 of the estimated 658 gray wolves roaming the woods of the Upper Peninsula in three zones comprising an area around Ironwood in Gogebic County, portions of Baraga, Houghton and Ontonagon counties, and Luce and Mackinac counties.

But the fall hunt is off until the commission can approve a new wolf hunt. The commission has to first get the proposal at its June meeting and then can vote on the matter in July, said Sarah Lapshan, spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources.

Supporters of the hunt say wolves have become a menacing nuisance for farmers whose livestock have been attacked by the predators. Some residents have reported seeing them in their back yards.

Even though the referendum has essentially been upended by the Legislature's new law, it cannot be called off, Thomas said.

clivengood@detroitnews.com

(517) 371-3660

Twitter.com/ChadLivengood


From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2013 ... z2UeJeco3L