Wolf bill heads to committee

Associated Press

A man wearing a wolf cap takes a photo of a crowd as supporters of a ban on wolf hunting rallied in the Capitol Rotunda on Feb. 27 in St. Paul. The advocacy group Howling for Wolves opposes the random killing of non-problem wolves for sport. Bills in the Minnesota House and Senate call for a moratorium on wolf hunting.

Posted: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 

Associated Press | 

ST. PAUL — Opponents of Minnesota’s wolf hunt will take their case to state lawmakers this week.
The Senate Environment and Energy Committee takes up a bill Tuesday that would require the Department of Natural Resources to conduct an annual wolf census. The DNR would also have to sample public opinion on hunting wolves.

Wolf baiting would be banned within 10 miles of tribal lands, and the DNR would have to produce a map that shows where wolves are a threat to livestock, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.

Maureen Hackett, a member of the anti-hunt group Howling for Wolves, says the DNR needs to collect more data on wolf deaths and how the hunting season affects the overall population.

“Once we get this clear understanding of all these factors, we could talk about a hunt, but until then we would suspend the hunt,” he said. “That’s what we’re asking for.”

The DNR says it already keeps closer track of wolves than most other species.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Foung Hawj, DFL-St. Paul.

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