LETTER: Dogs in wolf hunt dangerous, expensive

To the Telegram:

The Wisconsin wolf hunt is over. It ended two full months early due to “success” of reaching the quotas in all six zones. The total dead wolves is 238 per the DNR, chief wildlife section, Bill Vander Zouwen. This number breaks down to 117 killed in hunt, 75 killed for depredation problems, 22 motor vehicle crashes, 19 illegally, and 5 found dead of unknown reason. These numbers do not reflect the many other illegal kills, not detected, and hey — guess what — some wolves actually die of natural causes.

I am against the hunt. What I find even more appalling is now Judge Anderson of Dane County has lifted the injunction of banning dogs in the hunt. It was not his fault; he couldn’t stop it, as it is law.

Act 169 includes the hunting, chasing down of wolves with dogs. Wolves cannot climb trees like bears. The outcome will be brutal and deadly conflict between dogs and wolves. The hunters will be paid up to $2,500 for each dog injured or killed by the wolf it is pursuing. Dogs are not a piece of hunting equipment. Their lives matter.

The DNR warns hunters to keep dogs out of wolf territory but now encourages dogs to be trained to hunt wolves. Hound hunters answer to these facts: “they will use the animal fighting breeds of dogs.” Would this have been an acceptable answer from Michael Vick? Training on captive animals and pitting packs of dogs against wolves is dog fighting and should be illegal.

The DNR now has authority to “manage” the wolves, since delisted from the Endangered Species List. The DNR sells hunting licenses for wolves and deer. Less wolves equals more deer, equals more hunting tags, equals more money for the DNR. This is a conflict of interest.

The DNR board will be writing the rules regarding dogs. We must stop this insanity. Anyone interested in helping may call me at 218-343-6990.

Alice Miller,

Maple

Editor’s note: Phone number printed at writer’s request.

Tags: opinion, letters