FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 7, 2019

Contact: Sen. Cowles: (608) 266-0484 / Rep. Tauchen: (608) 266-3097

Shawano County Legislators Applaud Federal Action on Wolf Protections

MADISON– Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Representative Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Interior plans to lift endangered species protections for the gray wolf: 

Senator Cowles stated, “I am pleased to see Secretary Bernhardt and the Department of Interior’s decision to return gray wolf management to the states. For years, this management has been largely controlled by the federal government as Wisconsin residents have struggled with wolves, including dealing with the financial and emotional toll from deaths of farm animals, hunting dogs and pets because of wolf attacks. Several of these instances have taken place in or near the 2nd Senate District.”

Representative Tauchen added, “This is an important announcement for Wisconsin Agriculture.  A properly maintained wolf population is crucial to protecting livestock in the state.”

“Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources has a proven history of successful wildlife management,” Senator Cowles continued. “We’ve waited too long for gray wolf management to return to the experts in our state agency instead of Washington D.C. bureaucrats and federal judges. I plan on reviewing Wisconsin law on wolf management in coming months to ensure a smooth transition from federal control to state management of Wisconsin’s gray wolf population.”

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