MEDIA STATEMENT: Wolf trophy hunting ban excluded from final legislative deal 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2019

CONTACT: Dr. Maureen Hackett, Howling For Wolves, 612.250.5915 or Leslie Rosedahl, social@howlingforwolves.org 651.353.1818

Wolf trophy hunting ban excluded from final legislative deal 

(St. Paul, Minn.) – Today the Minnesota State Senate and House of Representatives approved the final Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Finance Bill which did not include the provision to prohibit a wolf hunting and trapping season in Minnesota. This provision was approved earlier this year by the Minnesota House of Representatives and Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan have indicated their support as well. Current law allows the Minnesota DNR to decide on a hunting and trapping season for wolves, if they are removed from the federal Endangered Species List.

Dr. Maureen Hackett, founder and president of Howling For Wolves, a Minnesota-based wolf advocacy organization, said in response:

“Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan, many lawmakers, and the vast majority of Minnesotans want to protect the wolf for future generations. Howling For Wolves strongly supports these efforts as wolf trophy hunting and trapping seasons harm the wolf, creating chaos and massive wolf death. Research tells us human wolf killing disrupts wolf packs, causing unstable and unpredictable effects such as increased wolf-livestock conflicts.” 

###

Howling For Wolves educates the public about the wild wolf to foster tolerance and to ensure the wolf’s long-term survival. Howling For Wolves opposes recreational wolf hunting and trapping and all wildlife snaring. We advocate for nonlethal prevention methods that reduce wolf-livestock conflicts and support current federal protections for the wolf. www.HowlingForWolves.org.