Living with Wolves in Michigan

posted on February 7, 2012 1:32pm

Whereas in the past wolf management in Michigan was restricted to recovery, today, managers must contend with range expansion and post-recovery issues including policy changes (e.g., regulated hunting seasons); public responses to policy change (e.g., lawsuits, public votes, media coverage, poaching); and balancing preferences, tolerance, and behaviors of traditional and non-traditional wildlife stakeholders both within and outside Michigan.

A College of Agriculture and Natural Resources team of Meredith Gore, assistant professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michael Nelson, associate professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, doctoral student Michelle Lute, and Michigan Tech University associate professor John Vucitech, have released from a study designed to investigate some social factors relevant to wolf hunting in Michigan. The team explored the extent to which residents: (1) value wolves, (2) are interested in hunting wolves, (3) believe a decision to hunt wolves should be made by public vote and (4) are committed to sound science as a necessary component of wolf management decisions about hunting. (To request a copy of the report, please email Eileen Gianiodis.)

From Michigan Radio’s The Environment Report:

"Gray wolves in the western Great Lakes were recently taken off the endangered species list.

Now, the state of Michigan is responsible for managing the wolf population. Michael Nelson is an associate professor of environmental ethics and philosophy at Michigan State University.  He’s an author of a new report on people’s attitudes about wolves in Michigan."

LISTEN TO THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT STORY