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The announcement from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on Wednesday was like getting an early Christmas present for those of us that have been following the issue of the growing population of the Gray Wolf in Michigan.

On December 28^th, the USFWS will de-list wolves in the western Great Lakes. The detail will be placed on the National Register to take effect January 27, 2012.

Unfortunately there are some who will raise an eyebrow indicating that we’ve been this route before, only to have the process de-railed by anti-conservation factions led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

That same set of skeptics are of the belief that wolves were transplanted here on a scheme by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).

The facts behind the issue stand clear in that a natural recovery of wolf populations in the western Great Lakes, consisting of packs in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, was found to have been accomplished back in 1989. Then a sustained combined population of 100 animals in all three states was met and measured for the next five years. Today estimated populations show 2,921 in Minnesota, 782 in Wisconsin and 687 in the UP. The UP has approximately 131 distinct packs.

Unfortunately, and even though it was more than obvious that wolves had recovered and were in need of management over two decades ago, the entire northern tier of the United States was set up as one unit. If population segments in other areas were not recovered, it meant that no area in the plus category could implement a plan.

Since then the USFWS has distinguished the western Great Lakes as a separate entity and thus could apply for de-listing. Beginning in the early part of the decade, applications were turned back after litigation was initiated by groups like HSUS. The last time it happened was when the USFWS failed to hold a 90 day open public comment period, even though it had previously been done and the biologic science that supported the need to de-list wolves had been established.

By the way, each time legal counsel initiated litigation and won, the USFWS was tapped for recovery of fees. The last round cost conservationists over a quarter million dollars. That is money taken directly out of wildlife and habitat projects.

In their announcement Wednesday, the USFWS though Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar thanked “all of the scientists, wildlife managers, and our state, tribal and stakeholder partners (in proving) the gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region are now fully recovered and healthy.”

In the words of MDNR Wildlife Chief Russ Mason, “Hopefully this decision will once and for all put the issue to rest.”

State management of wolves has been absent due to the fact that the responsibility and authority was in the hands of the federal government. By de-listing them now, the State of Michigan can re-activate laws passed in 2008, that permit depredation orders for those who own livestock (PA209) and pets (PA318), to use lethal means to stop wolves doing or about to do damage to their property. Prior to that, lethal control could only take place if human life was at risk.

During the summer of 2005, the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Fisheries and Wildlife coordinated non focus-group meetings to discuss wolves and wolf-related issues.

From June through September of 2006, the Michigan Wolf Management Roundtable, a varied group of individuals representing 20 agencies and organizations met a total of ten days to deliberate on wolf management. They identified and prioritized important wolf-related issues, reviewed relevant social and biological science, and engaged in intense negotiations to reach consensus on a set of guiding principles for wolf management in Michigan.

Unfortunately, the group nor the legislature were able to include hunting and trapping as part of the formula, an essential part of the total package.

What is needed now will be the state legislature to enact another law that will convert wolves from a non-game (protected) species to that of a game species, after which population controls can be implemented. Then the MDNR will go back to the table and entrust stakeholders to help them present their case to the legislature when discussions of conversion to a game species begin.

This will most likely be the next area in which the antis will attempt to stop the process. It is anticipated their contention that wolves will be obliterated by hunters, sighting instances where poaching has already occurred. Mason believes it will be important to illustrate that 99% of those who hunt wild game want to do the right thing.

It has been the hunters and trappers that have maintained many wildlife species, both game and non-game variety, through their efforts to control populations and improve habitat conditions.

Those who purport protectionism, like HSUS, do nothing to truly help wildlife. Instead they seem to work primarily on using these issues, like wolf de-listing, as a means to sensationalize and solicit money from an unknowing public to keep themselves in business.

Overall, the announcement to de-list wolves is a great thing. It means we’re moving forward and that from here on, we’ll have home field advantage in the contest to complete the process.