12/30/2025

N. WISCONSIN - The House of Representatives passed the Pet and Livestock Protection Act back on December 18, which would de-list the gray wolf from the endangered species list. Proponents of the bill, like co-sponsor Tom Tiffany, say that it would give the Wisconsin DNR more authority in dealing with escalating human-wolf conflict.  The gray wolf was placed on the endangered species list on February 10, 2022, following a federal court ruling. However, Randy Johnson of the DNR says, “The wolf population in Wisconsin by all measures has biologically recovered and is secure.”  Wisconsin is unique because current state law directs the DNR to “allow the hunting and trapping of wolves,” whenever they are not federally or state listed. Johnson says the bill would, “give the state authority to lethally remove wolves involved in conflict situations as deemed necessary…”  Wisconsin has conducted wolf hunts as recently as February of 2021, killing 218 wolves in just under three days.