Republican Wolf Population Goal Bill Gets Committee Hearing

Thursday, November 9th, 2023 -- 11:01 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) At the Capitol, a bill to have the DNR to set a wolf population number had a committee hearing on Wednesday.

The wolf population is estimated at 1,000. Representative Shae Sortwell questioned DNR’s Randy Johnson. “You estimated 1000 wolves - what's a good number? / If you ask 30 people you get 30 answers. / I'm asking you. / My answer depends on the public input, the science, all those things. I don't have a personal answer.”

That answer didn’t sit well with the Two Rivers Republican. “What kind of BS response is that? I'm sorry, what is the scientific answer for what you think should be the goal for the people of Wisconsin?”

Senator Rob Stafsholt of New Richmond said the DNR’s current estimate of about 1,000 wolves in Wisconsin is debatable. “I’m not saying that’s where I stand, but I would say that the general public’s opinion up north is that they are extremely low compared to what those folks see on the landscape.”

Johnson explained the plan has an “adaptive management” goal. “If your goal was to reach full biological carrying capacity we would want to get to 1200 to 1300. But we have to balance social carrying capacity as well, and social carrying capacity is almost always less, which is I think stated and discussed in the plan.”

The plan was adopted last month by the Natural Resources Board last month, over the objections of hunting and agriculture groups. The legislation from Republican lawmakers doesn't include a specific number of wolves, but would leave that up to the DNR.

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