Michigan Indian Tribal Leaders Respond to Wolf Hunt Approval
Last Thursday the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved a limited public wolf harvest in three distinct regions of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The commission adopted the regulations during its regular monthly meeting.
The new regulations establish a limited harvest of 43 wolves in three areas of the Upper Peninsula where said wolf/human conflicts, including depredation of livestock and pets and human safety concerns, have been persistent despite employing a number of control measures.
According to Natural Resources Commission Chairman J.R. Richardson, “The recovery of Michigan' wolf population has been a remarkable success story. Today's decision by the NRC supports ongoing scientific management of this game species, just as voters intended when by an overwhelming margin they approved Proposal G in 1996.”
But many in Michigan do not agree with him. Over 250,000 signatures (by Michigan residents) on a petition to not approve the wolf hunts were ignored by Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder. Another major opponent to the wolf hunts were several Michigan Indian tribal leaders. Native Protesters also gathered outside the Michigan capitol earlier this year to proclaim their disagreement.
The reactions by three tribal leaders were swift to proclaim their displeasure to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission's action. They are as follows below:
Reaction by Tribal Chairman Aaron Payment, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians:
"I am deeply disturbed by the Michigan legislature enacting legislation that is NOT based on science and the manner in which this legislation barreled down a path through a one party house, senate and governorship.
At our recent State Tribal Accord meeting between the Governor and all 12 Michigan tribes, I cautioned the governor to not sign the bill given our culture, science, and conservation concerns. I specifically said, "The legislature may ignore the 60,000 or so indigenous people of Michigan, but Governor, please don't ignore the 225,000 Michigan citizens who signed the referendum."
The State -Tribal Accord was set up to facilitate better government to government relations. I have tried repeatedly to get a meeting with the Governor to share our concerns. At this point, I am questioning the wisdom of my participation in an Accord where our input is not sought nor included and decisions that affect our shared resources are made unilaterally."
Reaction by Tribal Councilor Belinda Bardwell, Little Bay Bands of Odawa Indians:
"As a tribal leader AND voter in the state of Michigan, I am completely in awe of the shear disregard to treaty rights, compact agreements, science, and the voice of over 200 thousand REGISTERED voters our governor and lawmakers could have. One should question their agenda when policies and laws are passed with such swiftness and callousness."
Reaction from former Tribal Chairman Derek Bailey, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians:
"Michigan made a rash political decision that is not supported by sound science, nor does it comply with the state's own management plan upon which the federal "de-listing" was premised. Compared to Minnesota and Wisconsin, very few predation incidents have been documented in Michigan and a process already exists for targeted elimination of these animals. The hunt authorized by the Michigan Natural Resource Commission is extremely risky to the sustainability of this important species, especially considering that two years ago these wolves were still designated as an endangered species."
Bastards. What can be done to stop this ????
He'll ya let the hunt begin! Better start early have you ever seen the grey Liam neeson? That shit could possibly happen better we kill them off fast so hide your kids hide your wife because they raping everybody up here ain't nobody got time for that.
I am horrified to see comments like the above, but unfortunately not surprised. The tides are rising in both directions and the poison gets pushed up for all to see before the truth of balance can be restored. Keep up your good work even if battles are lost you are heard by more hearts and ears and even upcoming souls who have not begun their earth walk, perhaps more of these than you can imagine!!!
Its amazing how we always find a way to hunt animals but the biggest threat is man LEAVE THE WOLVES ALONE. Dont see laws being past to hunt stupid people rapist etc.
I am horrified reading this. I cannot believe the injustice. We moved in to there territory and they are frightened and trying to survive in our harsh world. "If you cannot respect, appreciate and Co-habitate, then you should not be living inn there back yard." They are also one of God's most precious possessions.
This needs to be stopped some how. It's so very wrong. Wolves have a right to live. They were here before man. Why is it that people think that they have to kill everything that is beautiful? It's inhumane and brutal
Snyder is simply lying through his teeth. This is how he and the NRC lie, by the way: they and their pet experts simply change the subject. If the wolf population had not stabilized from the 687 wolves of 2013 there would be about 860 wolves at the former growth rate. Facing this, they switch partway through a paragraph of their "Rationale" for the hunt conservation order from discussing if wolf population is increasing to 860 at former growth rates of about 12%/year and needs control, their favorite Big Lie they are trying to promote, to a totally unrelated statistical picking of nits over whether the 658 count is enough different (4%) from the 687 to prove wolf population is actually going *down* - instead of simply being held perfectly still by the wolves!
Quote from official NRC order rationale: "14. [...]Annual growth rates have slowed somewhat in recent years, and the late winter 2013 population minimum count estimate of 658 shows a reduction from the late winter 2011 population estimate of 687. However, Dr. David Mech, a recognized wolf expert whose work has been relied upon by the DNR, has stated that you cannot conclude that the Upper Peninsula wolf population has declined by comparing 2011 minimum winter survey results to 2013 minimum winter survey results"
Well no kidding! Duh! The numbers are so close they'll be in error tolerance of being the same number. But what about the 200 missing wolves of 860 they were talking about? the GROWTH they are in the middle of evaluating to see if needs managing?
What the NRC is saying, in effect, is that the amazing thing is not that the bear dances better than a human can, but merely that it dances so very very well that you reliably can't tell the difference. Therefore they are issuing the bear's performance a bad review compared to humans.
The second Big Lie problem: the DNR proposed wolf trapping only on private land, to cause wolves to avoid human areas and animal property. The NRC bluntly overrode this allowing trapping on a much larger area of public land. Their stated rationale was that Minnesota and Wisconsin trappers were successful trapping wolves on public lands as well as private.
The NRC pretended to forget the hunt's goal is not creating a very successful recreational or commercial wolf trapping industry, but to control specific problems, problems not helped by killing a wolf a concealed trap where it is really supposed to be. Worse, the NRC cares so much for trapping, which more efficient than hunting, could take the majority of the 43 wolf quota from public lands alone, that they are willing to throw away half or more of the hunt's effects ostensibly protecting residents. Not trapping on public lands will not prevent the wolves being taken by hunters that may also frighten the packs, or by traps on private land it is desired wolves avoid. Nor would fewer wolves be taken in total, just in ways and places where, by the DNR's theory, it might do some good.
The NRC also rejected a standard random drawing option for wolf hunting licenses like elk and bear for a free-for-all "over the counter, first-com, first serve" system to let influential out of state trophy hunting groups, political cronies, and wolf hunt promoters they like get a better chance at the wolf licenses compared to Michigan residents.
If we are going to kill 43 wolves, let it at least be for some good reason other than a trapper's greed to take an animal in a way that will not help management.
The Michigan NRC had the Montana wolf hunting spokesman come in and testify that the packs of wolves in Montana were fine, just fine, showing no problems at all from the hunt, while back in Montana the spokesmen say, oh, yeah, the packs are getting small and increasing in number -- in other words, driving their reproduction rate up -- but that was expected from the start with sport hunting.
Are they liars, thieves, or idiots? Why not all three?
It is so disturbing. Poor innocent animals. By the way what do we do about the growing numbers of Politicians that lie and only use their power to get to their personal gain. Now they are hurting animals, tomorrow they will be hurting humans. The worst is that they don't seem to care. What should we do with this growing specy?
I feel so sad at this decision to hunt the wolves. I am heartbroken. How are they going to restore them when they become extinct. Nature stabilises the population, not man. Man is the worst inhabitants of the planet. They go to war, they kill their own kind and not satisfied with that they have to kill God's creatures who are trying to survive on this planet in their own world. Animals have far better ethics than some humans. Leave them alone I say.
All sentient beings should be free to roam and live life happily and safely.
Stop the hunting of wolves NOW! Humans don't have the right to hunt/kill wolves...EVER!
AMEN...couldn't have said it better myself
AMEN...couldn't have said it better myself
AMEN...couldn't have said it better myself
AMEN...couldn't have said it better myself
AMEN...couldn't have said it better myself
AMEN...couldn't have said it better myself
I can't understand how this ever became an issue in the first place. But, it's the same political BS, spend taxpayer money to enact laws, and then spend more of our money to enact a law that will take more of our money to enact another law to enact the law they just enacted. Man's best friend shares over 99% of their DNA with the wolf. This is not hunting for food, this is hunting for the sake of killing something." If our govt spent more time doing the job they were hired to do, and less time trying to nanny the hell out of us, we wouldn't be $17 trillion in debt. I support the right to "keep and bear arms." We certainly can't rely on our gov't to protect us. But I don't support the right to kill carnivore animals.
Mother Nature is well designed to take care of nature on her own, when we brake one link we start a chain reaction of over population of another species. The only "legitimate" confirmed wolf attack on a human that I have heard was in Alaska, one attack! Their may be others, but you could probably count them on one hand, and you could probably find flaws with half of those accounts. (Those are the same people who are looking for Big Foot)
Wolves don't hunt humans, and they don't have open season on certain prey animals for their benefit. They choose sick, lame, and diseased animals, they are part of nature's design. The "survival of the fittest" the strong survive, and the sick and dying are taken for food, not for trophies.
All that said, how many will consider their disapproval when they vote? How many people hold their nose when they vote? If you keep doing what your doing, you keep getting what you got!
We have a choice, vote these morally bankrupt, incompetent, lying, corrupt, sorry ass fools out of office. We can change this country if put as much effort into changing it, as we do by complaining about it. Find a Libertarian who's running for office, if that person represents your values, vote for them, if not "write in" Abraham Lincoln. At least he can't do us any harm. here's the site: http://www.lp.org/
By the way, why do so many people comment anonymously? If you've got something to say, stand up and say it, and more people will take you seriously, and consider doing the same.
Politicians and Tribes must sit down and come to conclusion for the wellfare of Wolves.The solution is clearly POLITICAL and on a federal basis.
Response to Eril Blinn. You stated your believe that our government "certainly" cannot be relied upon to protect us. I can tell you know very little about the rest of the world where people are under REAL risk (hey you wanna go to live in Gaza, Samalia, Haiti, or Syria to feel safer, go right ahead). If you don't believe our government protects us, why don't you share with us which countries do the job of protecting their people better than the U.S.A. because your blanket statement about our country is offensive to those of us who watch world news and SEE the safety we enjoy, even if some (like yourself) don't see it. Our military is dedicated to our safety and they are technically government employees. Ignorance may be bliss to some, but it is sad how tightly people hold onto their ignorance...a freedom our country also offers...
I am just disgusted with the way our government is dealing with the wolves!!! Wolves have been considered SACRED to many Native American tribes. It's like history is repeating itself. Take everything from the natives, their land, the right to live, the animals that roam on Native land just because the government man wants everything!! I could really say what I am thinking, but I won't..... I am going to say this, our government should be ashamed of themselves!! Killing a wolf is like killing an ancestor of a Native American Indian!!
It's time to go into the wild and turn the situation. Some may call me a murderer but I will never let the hunters kill one more wolf. One dead wolf means one hunter must die. I don't care if that hunter is either young or old or a damn family of hunters. We've had enough of the government.
I feel so sad at this decision to hunt the wolves. I am heartbroken. How are they going to restore them when they become extinct. Nature stabilises the population, not man. Man is the worst inhabitants of the planet. They go to war, they kill their own kind and not satisfied with that they have to kill God's creatures who are trying to survive on this planet in their own world. Animals have far better ethics than some humans. Leave them alone I say.
I am just disgusted with the way our government is dealing with the wolves!!! Wolves have been considered SACRED to many Native American tribes. It's like history is repeating itself. Take everything from the natives, their land, the right to live, the animals that roam on Native land just because the government man wants everything!! I could really say what I am thinking, but I won't..... I am going to say this, our government should be ashamed of themselves!! Killing a wolf is like killing an ancestor of a Native American Indian!! Amen, to all who saves the wolves... stop this killing now before its to late
u mite as well be killin mans best friend, wolves are basically the ancestors of dogs! sure they are not easy to tame or be held captive and called a pet but that is because they are free!!! so..STOP KILLIN THEM!!!!!