Members of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) wolf advisory committee raised questions about the structure and representation of the Department of Natural Resources’ re-established wolf advisory committee during a recent meeting at the Mead Wildlife Area in Milladore.
The meeting included updates on wolf management efforts in Wisconsin and a briefing on the DNR’s revived advisory committee, which was re-established in anticipation of potential federal delisting of the gray wolf. While committee members received an overview of early meetings and progress, several expressed concerns about the committee’s composition and selection process.
DNR large carnivore biologist Randy Johnson outlined the committee’s structure, which includes 24 seats. One seat is held by a Conservation Congress member, eight by DNR staff, three by federal and county representatives, and two by Ojibwe tribal members.
The remaining 10 seats are designated for stakeholder groups, with two seats each assigned to hunting and trapping interests, agriculture and ranching, conservation and education, environmental interests, and at-large citizens selected through an application process.
Johnson said interest in the committee exceeded the number of available seats, making selections difficult. He added that committee membership would be reviewed periodically to assess participation and determine whether members wished to continue serving.
Several WCC members raised concerns about stakeholder representation, particularly the absence of the Wisconsin Trappers’ Association. Members noted that trappers have historically played a key role in wolf management and are frequently relied upon by the DNR for trapping and collaring wolves.
Additional concerns echoed issues raised in past discussions, including the geographic distribution of committee members, with several residing outside of wolf range, and perceptions that applicants were required to fully align with the state’s existing wolf management plan to be selected.
The DNR opened applications for the advisory committee in April. Interviews and application reviews were conducted in June and July, with final selections announced in August. The committee met for the first time in September, followed by a second meeting in October. The initial meeting focused largely on team building and was facilitated by an outside moderator. The next meeting is expected in early 2026.
Citizen resolution advances
The committee also advanced a citizen resolution authored by the late Corky Meyer, a longtime conservation advocate and hound hunter who died earlier this year. The proposal would allow the use of trained dogs for target-specific wolf control.
The resolution was presented by Meyer’s daughter, Tanisha Peplinski. It states that dogs have been used for centuries to protect livestock and human safety and have served in roles such as law enforcement, military operations and livestock protection.
According to the proposal, trained dogs and handlers could be used to move problem wolf packs away from conflict areas and into more suitable habitat. Meyer cited the 2021 wolf hunt as an example of the efficiency and target-specific nature of dog-assisted wolf management, noting that necropsies conducted during and after the hunt showed no evidence of contact between wolves and hunting dogs used to fill quotas.
Peplinski said the resolution was introduced prior to potential delisting because the regulatory process is expected to take time. The goal, she said, is to have additional management tools in place if wolves are removed from federal protection.
While some non-lethal deterrents can lose effectiveness over time, Peplinski said trained dogs have demonstrated lasting success in reducing conflict and may decrease the need for lethal control. Johnson said similar approaches have been used in other regions to manage species such as bears and mountain lions.
The committee voted to advance the resolution, with one dissenting vote cast by Genevieve Adamski.