The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking information from the public on a wolf poaching matter that occurred last weekend.
An incident of wolf poaching recently took place in Stambaugh Township of Iron County, Michigan, and state DNR conservation officers are seeking help from the public in solving the crime.
The DNR reports that "shortly after 2 p.m. Jan. 22, a passerby spotted a dead female wolf, weighing approximately 70 pounds, lying several feet off the side of East Brule Lake Road." Conservation officers were called by the passerby and they immediately went to the scene and began an investigation.
They determined that the wolf's wound was the result of a gunshot and that the animal had likely been killed that morning. They also determined that the wolf had probably been moved and dumped on the side of the road only a couple hours prior to the passerby notifying authorities.
East Brule Lake Road, where the wolf was found, is located approximately 10 miles southwest of the city of Iron River, just north of the Wisconsin/Michigan border.
Sgt. Marc Pomroy stated, "Anyone who has information that may assist us in finding the person or persons responsible for the poaching of this wolf is asked to contact the DNR."
Persons with information regarding the incident, including vehicle activity in the immediate area between noon and 2 p.m. Jan. 22, are asked to call Sgt. Pomroy at 906-228-6561 or the 24-hour DNR Report All Poaching (RAP) line at 800-292-7800.
If anyone does have information pertaining to the incident they can leave it anonymously at the hotline number. Callers may also qualify for a monetary reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the violator or violators.
Wolves have been a hotly contested issue in the northwoods of Michigan and Wisconsin since a federal judge returned them to the Endangered Species Act list in 2014. Currently there is a bipartisan effort by several Midwestern states, including Michigan, to push a bill through congress delisting wolves from the EPA list.
Final approval of the bill would effectively return wolf management to the states, where they could institute hunting and trapping seasons to better control the rising wolf population.
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