WOLF HARVESTING IN MICHIGAN and the PRINCIPLES OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT John Vucetich, Michigan Technological University! Jeremy Bruskotter, Ohio State University! Adrian Treves, University of Wisconsin! Tim Van Deelen, University of Wisconsin! Michael P. Nelson, Oregon State University! Rolf Peterson, Michigan Technological University!
North American Model of Wildlife Conservation PRINCIPLES #1 Wildlife is Held in the Public Trust #2 Elimination of Markets for Game #3 Principles of Democracy #4 Hunting Opportunity for All #5 Don t kill without legitimate purpose #6 International Resources #7 Best-available science rmef.com
POLITICAL HISTORY IN MICHIGAN Dec 2011: Wolf delisted in Michigan Dec 2012: Public Act 520 - declares wolf game species - pre-requisite for a harvest - only legislature has authority Mar 2013 Quarter million signatures to place PA520 on the ballot in Nov. 2014 May 2013: Public Act 21 signed into law gives NRC authority to name game species. Apr 2013: Senate Bill 288 - gives NRC authority to name game species - unrequested $1million appropriations to MI-DNR Apr 2013: MI-DNR presents plans for a wolf harvest. May 2013 Board of State Canvassers confirms PA520 will be on the ballot; media: toothless gesture. Jul 2013: NRC approves plans for a wolf harvest. Summer 2013: Signatures begin to be gathered to place PA21 on the ballot in Nov. 2014. Nov 2014: Voting July/Aug 2014: Legislature s response Spring/Summer 2014: Voter-initiated legislation
North American Model e d DEMOCRACY!! e c n scie! y c a r c o m #1 Wildlife is Held in the Public Trust #2 Elimination of Markets for Game SCIENCE! #3 Principles of Democracy #4 Hunting Opportunity for All #5 Don t kill without legitimate purpose #6 International Resources #7 Best-available science
A SECOND SET OF PRINCIPLES WHAT is the purpose or goal of a management action or plan? SCIENCE QUESTION VALUE QUESTION citizens responsibility HOW would management actions meet the purpose or goal and how will success or failure be judged? WHY are the purpose and goals appropriate and justified?
NORTH AMERICAN MODEL Wildlife is not held in exclusive trust of those wishing to hunt wildlife. PRINCIPLES #1 Wildlife is Held in the Public Trust #2 Elimination of Markets for Game Burden for advocates of harvesting particular populations to offer good reasons for why doing so is appropriate. #3 Principles of Democracy #4 Hunting Opportunity for All #5 Don t kill without legitimate purpose #6 International Resources #7 Best-available science Research indicates that non-hunters generally support hunting so long as adequate reason is provided. Democracy! Just Democracy! Reasoned Democracy!
NORTH AMERICAN MODEL Wildlife is not held in exclusive trust of those wishing to hunt wildlife. PRINCIPLES #1 Wildlife is Held in the Public Trust #2 Elimination of Markets for Game Burden for advocates of harvesting particular populations to offer good reasons for why doing so is appropriate. #3 Principles of Democracy #4 Hunting Opportunity for All #5 Don t kill without legitimate purpose #6 International Resources #7 Best-available science Research indicates that non-hunters generally support hunting so long as adequate reason is provided. What are the reasons?!
Why harvest wolves in Michigan? Protect human safety and livestock.!! Geographically focused on regions where most threats occur.!! Hoped-for outcomes:! reduce wolf abundance and! change behavior of wolves.!
THREATS TO HUMAN SAFETY Stunningly rare?!! When threats occur, need to be dealt with immediately, precisely, thoroughly.!! 93 complaints of nuisance wolf behavior between 2010 and 2013.!! Success criteria?!
THREATS TO LIVESTOCK PRECISION & TIMELINESS
THREATS TO LIVESTOCK LARGE SCALE PATTERN: ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN Depredation events R 2 = 0.67 46 19 50 23 80% chance verified & suspected events
THREATS TO LIVESTOCK LARGE SCALE PATTERN: ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN SMALL SCALE PATTERN: WITHIN WOLF MANAGEMENT UNIT B Depredation events R 2 = 0.67 R 2 = 0.21
Depredation events R 2 = 0.67
Depredation events R 2 = 0.67 Change in wolf abundance Mortality rate
Depredation events R 2 = 0.67 Change in wolf abundance Mortality rate
PLANNED HARVEST IS NOT EVEN EXPECTED TO REDUCE WOLF ABUNDANCE 35% mortality rate expected to result in 2.6% reduction in abundance. Depredation events R 2 = 0.67 15% Change in wolf abundance Mortality rate
BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF HARVEST poaching and lethal control dispersing wolves
THREATS TO LIVESTOCK 2012 Objective? Success criteria? Imagine you implement a harvest, depredations decline to 10.! verified only
THREATS TO LIVESTOCK 2012 Objective? Success criteria? Imagine you implement a harvest, depredations decline to 10.! 2013 verified only
THREATS TO LIVESTOCK Objective? Success criteria??!?!?! verified only
THREATS TO LIVESTOCK?! harvest implemented verified only
MANAGE THREATS TO LIVESTOCK & HUMANS WHAT is the purpose or goal of a management action or plan??!?! HOW will the management HARVEST WOLVES actions meet the purpose or goal and how will success or failure be judged? WHY are the purpose and goals appropriate and justified?
MANAGE THREATS TO LIVESTOCK & HUMANS WHAT is the purpose or goal of a management action or plan? HOW will the management HARVEST WOLVES actions meet the purpose or goal and how will success or failure be judged? WHY are the purpose and goals appropriate and justified?
If reasons for harvesting wolves are weak, citizens are right to wonder about unstated reason for harvesting wolves. North American Model #1 Wildlife is Held in the Public Trust #2 Elimination of Markets for Game #3 Principles of Democracy #4 Hunting Opportunity for All #5 Don t kill without legitimate purpose #6 International Resources #7 Best-available science It s been suggest that some citizens hate wolves.
PRINCIPLES OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT? North American Model #1 Wildlife is Held in the Public Trust #2 Elimination of Markets for Game #3 Principles of Democracy #4 Hunting Opportunity for All #5 Don t kill without legitimate purpose #6 International Resources #7 Best-available science WHAT is the purpose or goal of a management action or plan? HOW will the management actions meet the purpose or goal, how will success be judged? WHY are the purpose and goals appropriate and justified?