DNR Hearings For Species of Special Concern: Gray Wolves

       The Minnesota DNR held five hearings throughout the state (see "DNR Hearing Locations" section below) to obtain official public comment
       for use in making a determination about the official status change of species at risk of disappearing from the state. Listed species are placed into
       one of three categories: endangered, threatened and special concern. The DNR has proposed changing the status of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
       from "Special Concern" to "None". 

       It is important that those who value wolves and other wildlife take this opportunity to speak out for gray wolves by making an official public comment.
       We believe it is important that the Gray Wolf remain a species of "Special Concern" in Minnesota. 

       Comments will be accepted in writing until 4:30pm on Wednesday, February 27th (see "Public Comment" section below).

       Key Talking Points:

• State law previously required a five-year waiting period before any population management measures (including hunting and trapping)
  would be considered after wolves were removed from the Endangered Species list. This five-year waiting period was stripped away
  behind locked doors by political insiders without any public input during the hurried 2011 special session.

• The wolf population has been stable without a hunt since 1998. No baseline data was obtained before the start of the 2012-13 season.
  Lacking baseline data will make basic determinations about the health of our gray wolf population difficult. It will take years to assess the
  damage done by this year's wolf hunt.

• MN State laws allows wolves to be killed when pets, people and livestock are perceived to be threatened. One hundred more wolves
  were killed as a result of new law in 2012 than all previous years. We need additional time to evaluate the impacts of these lightened
  restrictions for wolf destruction.

• One in four wolves was killed by hunting and trapping in 2012 based on an estimated population of 3,000 wolves when the population
  was last surveyed in 2007-2008. This significant destruction doesn't account for the impacts of disease and illness among wolves that
  will also negatively impact this population.

• Persecutory attitudes and behaviors that drove the gray wolf to the brink of extinction continue today. The DNR has not released
  information to the public about the sources of wolf death that continue to threaten the population including poaching, illnesses, and
  car collisions.

• The wolf keeps our deer and other wildlife populations in balance so our north woods has a diverse ecology that attracts tourism to
  our state, including hunting and fishing. Ecotourism is a sustainable $531 million industry in Minnesota supporting nearly 13,000 jobs.