A recent survey by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources indicates that the gray wolf population in the state increased 25 percent this year, from 2,278 wolves to nearly 2,900 wolves; As a result, the Minnesota Wildlife Services program has been particularly active and has been forced to stop all operational wolf depredation assistance for farmers and ranchers for the remainder of the year starting October 13th due to a lack of funds
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, the federal lawmakers urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to locate, shift, or transfer the resources necessary to allow wolf depredation services to continue in Minnesota
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and Representatives Collin Peterson, Tim Walz, Rick Nolan, and Tom Emmer have called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make emergency resources available to continue wolf depredation services in Minnesota. A recent survey by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources indicates that the gray wolf population in the state increased 25 percent this year, from 2,278 wolves to nearly 2,900 wolves. As a result, the Minnesota Wildlife Services program has been particularly active and has been forced to stop all operational wolf depredation assistance for farmers and ranchers for the remainder of the year starting October 13th due to a lack of funds. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, the federal lawmakers urge USDA to locate, shift, or transfer the resources necessary to allow wolf depredation services to continue in Minnesota.
“Minnesota has the highest number of gray wolves in the contiguous United States. A recent survey by the Minnesota DNR indicates that the gray wolf population in the state increased 25 percent this year, from 2,278 wolves to nearly 2,900 wolves. As a result, the Minnesota Wildlife Services program has been particularly active and will be forced to stop all operational wolf depredation assistance for the remainder of the year starting October 13th due to a lack of funds,” the federal lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to locate, shift, or transfer the resources necessary to allow wolf depredation services to continue in Minnesota. This support will help address concerns with predatory wolves in the short-term.”
The full text of the lawmakers’ letter is below.
Dear Secretary Perdue:
We request that adequate emergency resources be made available so that wolf depredation services may continue in Minnesota. We appreciate the collaboration during the last few years between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and urge this relationship to continue.
Minnesota has the highest number of gray wolves in the contiguous United States. A recent survey by the Minnesota DNR indicates that the gray wolf population in the state increased 25 percent this year, from 2,278 wolves to nearly 2,900 wolves. As a result, the Minnesota Wildlife Services program has been particularly active and will be forced to stop all operational wolf depredation assistance for the remainder of the year starting October 13th due to a lack of funds.
The Wildlife Services depredation program provides trapping services, on-site investigations, and other operational assistance for residents that are having problems with predatory wolves. This program offers much-needed services that help people every day who feel the safety of their families, livestock, or pets are in jeopardy. We urge you to locate, shift, or transfer the resources necessary to allow wolf depredation services to continue in Minnesota. This support will help address concerns with predatory wolves in the short-term.
We look forward to working with you to restore the wolf depredation program in Minnesota.
Sincerely,
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