The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation hosted a listening session about wolves February 18 at the Solon Springs Community Center in Douglas County and invited local farmers and others to share their experiences about living among the highest densities of wolves in the state, and possibly the highest in the lower 48 states.
About 60 people attended in person and more online, and eventually over the course of more than three hours, they shared their realities. Hesitant at first, residents said they believed that no one cared about what they were experiencing or about the losses they endured. They said they did not think the Department of Natural Resources or other government agencies cared. A common refrain was, “What’s the use of speaking up?” And they expressed concern about reprisals from animal rights extremists.
But after WWF President Pat Quaintance shared his own story and concerns about the draft Wolf Management Plan, local hunters, farmers, and landowners began opening up, hopeful that their voices would be heard, and that maybe their real-life suffering would help inform decisions on how wolves will be managed in the future.
They were pleasantly surprised, they said, to see new DNR Secretary-Designee Adam Payne listening intently via Zoom and taking notes about some issues that he had not previously hear. Also in attendance in the community center were new Wisconsin Natural Resources Board Chairman Bill Smill, and NRB Members Marcy West and Sandra Naas, plus Douglas Co. Board Chair Mark Liebaert, Polk Co. Supervisor Brad Olson, District 74 State Assemblyman Chanz Green, and State Senator Romaine Quinn’s staff member.
Thanks to WWF capturing and archiving their input, anyone can see and hear what people in wolf country are saying about their experiences via the recorded meeting here.
Use Passcode: Z708UTq#
At the February 22 Natural Resources Board meeting, DNR Secretary Payne brought up the WWF’s three-and-a-half hour listening session which he attended from start to finish, and he said that he and others at DNR heard the personal stories shared. He made sure that the Zoom link was shared with DNR leaders and all NRB members, plus others so they, too, could hear the words and experiences shared by people living in wolf country. Secretary Payne also told NRB members, DNR staff, and all the people in the NRB meeting audience and online, that he read through the entire plan, heard WWF’s concerns, and the concerns of people at the listening session, and that he expects there will be changes to the draft plan before the revised plan is circulated. Between now and then, he said, he and his staff will be working with stakeholders like WWF on those revisions.