State Roundup: A simple solution to paying for Wisconsin’s wolf damage claims

Wolf kills of livestock and pets are down in Wisconsin a bit from last year at this time, but the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may still have to prorate damage payments to livestock and pet owners this fiscal year because of DNR budget concerns (see Kevin Naze’s story in this issue for full details).

The DNR’s current fiscal year began July 1. The DNR may hold off all wolf kill payments until the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2027) in order to compare claims to cash on hand. In the meantime, DNR principals are applying for federal grants in hopes of covering any shortages. I’m not sure why we haven’t heard about this one yet, but there is a very easy solution to this problem.

Start a wolf hunting and trapping season. Simple Simon.

I know. I know. We can’t have a wolf season because Great Lakes wolves are still on the federal Endangered Species List yada, yada, yada. I’m tired of hearing that B.S. Wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan should have been delisted 15 years ago at a minimum.

Delist wolves, start a season, and use the application and license fees to cover the wolf kill damage claims. Those fees will more than cover loss payments. Problem solved.

MORE COVERAGE FROM WISCONSIN OUTDOOR NEWS:

Federal court kicks lawsuit on wake surfing against Wisconsin town of Scott

Wisconsin’s wolf damage coffers running low

Longtime forester Mike Amman appointed to fill Wisconsin Natural Resources Board vacancy

AS LONG AS I’M ALREADY TICKED OFF, let’s go a little farther down this wolf road on two more things. Language used by the DNR and wolf protectionists, and wolf caution areas.

Depredation. Depredate upon. Who the hell really uses that kind of language in day-to-day conversation? No one, unless you are someone trying to soften the blow of what wolves do to livestock and pets.

Depredation means kill. Wolves kill livestock and pets. Then they eat some of them. They don’t depredate upon them. They rip them apart and eat them.

Now, those wolf caution areas. I’m really tired of hearing wolf protectionists tell us that wolves won’t kill our dogs if we just avoided the DNR’s wolf caution areas. Well, when two-thirds of the state is inhabited by wolves, then two-thirds of the state is one big wolf caution area.

There is almost nowhere in this state that I could run a dog without having to worry about the dog getting clobbered and “depredated upon” by a wolf. The DNR has basically created a no-hunting zone for dog owners.

Look, I do not hate wolves. I am just sick and more than tired of all the mismanagement that I’ve witnessed since the night in 1987 at James Williams Junior High School in Rhinelander when I heard the DNR’s Dick Thiel (now retired) tell us we would never have more than 80 to 100 wolves under the wolf recovery plan. Forty years I’ve watched this misbegotten program unravel. Now I want to depredate something.

WISCONSIN’S PRIMARY ELECTION arrives Tuesday, Aug. 11. Go to myvote.wi.gov to see a complete list of all candidates for your area. Yeah, I’ve been thoroughly disenchanted with some of our leadership over all the years I’ve been voting, but I will again drag my happy rear end to the polls. Mostly because if I don’t I can’t complain.

THIS WEEK IN ROCK AND ROLL history, guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter left Steely Dan to join The Doobie Brothers in 1974, while in 1987, members of Def Leppard released their blockbuster album “Hysteria.” So go ahead, pour some sugar on something this week. Yeah, baby.