MARQUETTE, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – About a hundred supporters of “Keeping Michigan Wolves Protected” gathered on the State Capitol steps yesterday to protest to legislation that would block a public referendum on whether there should be a wolf hunt in Michigan.
Doctor John Vucetich, Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Michigan Tech, disputes claims that a hunt is needed to protect the public and livestock, saying the scheduled hunting period each year will do neither.
KMWP director Jill Fritz says their referendum, which was headed for the 2014 state ballot, would remove Michigan wolves from a game species list and eliminate the hunt. She says more than 253,000 signatures had been gathered to put the question on the ballot.
One of two pieces of legislation to block the public vote, Senate Bill 288, authored by State Senator Tom Casperson of Escanaba, has been placed in position for final passage today. A companion House bill is pending.
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