Via Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf and Wildlife.
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Our inbox is flooding with messages about how you can help STOP THE HUNT so here are some things you can do start doing RIGHT AWAY. Howl with all your heart and make your voice heard!
If you Applied for a Wolf Tag
To those who applied for a wolf tag, you need to go to your WI DNR account (gowild.wi.gov) to check on the application status. They will not notify you. If you didn’t create a password, you can use your customer number on the DNR order receipt to access your account. If you did get a tag, you do not need to purchase the license. Purchase of a license would only be required if you plan to hunt or trap a wolf. Many hunters will wait to see if the zone they want to hunt is still open, then purchase the license. So you can hold the tag – it won’t be given to someone else to kill a wolf. If you were not selected for a wolf tag but still want to help save wolves, please consider donating the cost of your tag to our wolf conservation fund.
Contact Your Government Officials
Our goal for every wolf that is killed during the hunt this week, is for everyone to submit 6 emails + 6 phone calls to the following government officials:
1. Governor Tony Evers: https://appengine.egov.com/apps/wi/governor/voice-an-opinion
2. Preston Cole, Secretary of the WI DNR: (608) 267-7556 / [email protected]
3. Josh Kaul, Attorney General: (608) 266-1221 / https://www.doj.state.wi.us/ag/contact
4. Senator Tammy Baldwin: (202) 224-5653 / https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/feedback
5. Your Congressman/Congresswomen: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
6. USFWS: 920-866-1717 / [email protected]
Here are some talking points to consider when drafting your email messages and phone calls:
- They pushed this hunt through in record time with minimal time for public input (48 hours notice). The comments they did receive were overwhelmingly against the hunt. How democratic is this process?
- We’ve never had a February hunt before—the NRB was already planning for a November hunt. Why the last minute rush?
- A hunt in late February will have detrimental effects to the wolf breeding process, pregnant females will be at great risk. Ethics aside, the DNR admitted they have no idea how the wolf population will be affected by this hunt. Where’s the science?
- Native Tribes believe Ma’iingan (the wolf) is their brother and what happens to one of them happens to the other. They are legally entitled to 100 of the tags, which they do not plan to fill. What happened to their sovereign rights under the Voigt treaty?
- The DNR is blatantly ignoring Wisconsin law by allowing the night killing of wolves, a decision that was slipped in with zero public input right before the hunt opened this week. The 2013 Act 20 Section 561 specifically repeals the provision that allowed for the night hunting of wolves.
- Wolves can be baited, run down by packs of hounds, trapped in snares, and shot at night with heat sensing scopes. What if we replaced “wolf” with “deer”…..would this same reckless and aggressive approach be tolerated?
Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE)
Never underestimate the power of your voice. A letter to the editor (LTE) is another effective way to influence elected officials and educate others. Members of Congress are particularly responsive to letters in their constituents’ local newspapers. There may be no easier way to make a public statement of support for wolves than a writing a letter to the editor. To learn how to write an effective LTE, click here.
Make Some Noise out in Wolf Territory This Week
You have every right to be the woods and in wolf territory during the hunt. Many snowmobile, fat bike, snowshoe and cross country ski trails weave through wolf territory! Take pictures, record and report and possible illegal activity you may encounter. Do not engage with hunters/trappers and do not disrupt the hunt. If you are confronted, leave and call the game warden.
STAY INFORMED !
We have a huge amount of energy and interest from wolf advocates all around the state and country who are angry and upset and ready to TAKE ACTION. We are so thankful you all have join us in solidarity to help save Wisconsin Wolves. To stay tuned on our upcoming plans to prevent this hunt from happening again in November, STAY TUNED by following us on Facebook and subscribe to our website below.
2 comments on “Wisconsin wolf hunt opens: Here’s what you can do”
Extinction is forever!
A hunt that should never be. This is so wrong in every aspect of its underhandedness of it. It must not continue. Wolves ar an integral part of the ecosystem to thrive. Imagine your family being hunted, and your young children hiding scared, and now orphaned. Or watching your pregnant wife slain in front of your eyes. Lastly, parents helpless, as their children lay dying, crying for their moms, and dads. These are people that do not look like, or speak like you, but people all the same. We need to evolve in our thinking, not regress to our past.