Press Release: Minnesota Wolf Season Quota Announced Following 25% Population Decline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         

Minnesota Wolf Season Quota Announced Following 25% Population Decline

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (July 29, 2013) – Today, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the target quota for the 2013-14 wolf hunting and trapping season will be 220. The announcement comes just weeks after results from the 2012-13 count of the state’s wolf population that showed the population has declined 25% since the last comprehensive count performed in 2007-08.

“Most Minnesotans don’t want wolves to be hunted and trapped for pleasure, and they strongly oppose the cruel methods allowed,” said Dr. Maureen Hackett, founder of Howling For Wolves. “There is no reason to hunt these top predators that are crucial to the health of our north woods ecosystem. We urge all Minnesotans that value the wolf to ask Governor Dayton and their state lawmakers to intervene and stop this hunt.”

The vast majority of Minnesotans (79%) believe that wolves are an asset to Minnesota and should be protected for future generations. A recreational wolf hunt does not support the long-term survival of the wolf in Minnesota.

Howling For Wolves (HFW) is a wolf advocacy organization that aims to educate the public and policy-makers about wolves to foster understanding and tolerance, and to ensure their long-term survival in Minnesota. HFW seeks innovative non-lethal solutions for conflict prevention and coexistence where wolves are perceived to be a threat. We oppose the random killing of non-problem wolves for sport and the cruel methods utilized. We do not oppose other forms of hunting conducted in a humane and ethical manner where the animal is used for food. HFW current efforts focus on the Minnesota’s gray wolves, which is the largest and only original wolf population remaining in the lower 48 states.

Press Contact: Maureen Hackett, M.D., 612-250-5915, hackett@howlingforwolves.org

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