The Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association welcomes Wednesday's announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state of Minnesota will jointly provide $220,000 for wolf management in the state.
"This agreement is great news," says MSCA president Tim Nolte. "MSCA is very pleased with the efforts our association leadership and our leadership in D.C. have taken to ensure Minnesota family farms have every possible resource to provide protection to their livestock."
He says the $220,000 will allow USDA's Minnesota Wildlife Services staff to fight wolf depredation. Wildlife Services will be able to begin removing wolves after verified reports of wolf damage to domestic animals. Wildlife Services also is available, as in the past, to investigate wolf damage claims at the discretion and availability of the local Minnesota Department of Natural Resources County Officer.
Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., first announced the new funding. He says it's good news for farmers and ranchers, who haven't been able to shoot or trap wolves that threaten their livestock after a judge's ruling in December that restored federal endangered species protection to wolves in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Peterson says he will continue to work to return wolf management to the states.
ADVERTISEMENT
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to appeal the court ruling.
