Hazelhurst Republican Tom Tiffany thinks Wisconsin's federal representatives should take action following a federal judge's decision to put wolves back on the federal endangered species list. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled that it was "arbitrary and capricious" to take gray wolves off the federal endangered species list. While Wisconsin's wolf hunt ended a few days prior to the ruling, it ended wolf hunts in the region for the future.
Senator Tiffany is on the state Joint Finance committee and also chairs the Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage. He questioned Howell's decision..
"....it was extremely disappointing that a judge from Washington, D.C. interjected herself into wildlife management, something the judge knows very little about here in Wisconsin, in de-listing the Timber Wolf here in the Great Lakes states..."
Tiffany said it was unfortunate someone with no background in science would be able to make such a far-reaching decision. He says the decision will impact whitetail deer population, the agricultural community and the northern economy. He says farmers in agricultural areas will not be able to stop wolves from killing farm animals.
"....our federal representatives should be really concerned about this overreach from the federal government. We're seeing it in so many ways, including wildlife management. I think they should review the endangered species act to put some limits on the control that federal judges (have) in decisions like this....
Late last week a spokesperson for the Humane Society of the United States applauded the judge's decision, saying in her opinion state oversight of wolves has failed and had stopped wolf recovery in it's tracks.
(Update: we incorrectly identified the quotation as from the Wisconsin Humane Society, which was inaccurate. The Wisconsin Humane Society is a local nonprofit that operates animal shelters in Milwaukee, Racine and Ozaukee Counties. They are not affiliated with HSUS, nor any national organization. We regret the error.)
