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Wolf Hunt Opponents Say They Have Enough Signatures For A Statewide Vote

Wolf print. Photo: Friends of Seney National Wildlife Refuge/Flickr
Wolf print. Photo: Friends of Seney National Wildlife Refuge/Flickr

People fighting a proposed wolf hunt in Michigan delivered a quarter million petition signatures to the Secretary of State’s office this morning. The petition calls for a statewide vote on the law authorizing the wolf hunt.

Jill Fritz, director of the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected campaign, says she’s optimistic state officials will validate enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot. If that happens, the vote would not be until November 2014, but any decision to approve a wolf hunt would be put on hold until after the vote.

“It will begin for us a long education campaign about wolves and the benefit of wolves to our state, leading up to the November 2014 election,” Fritz says.

The wolf hunt is supported by farming and hunting groups. Farmers complain wolves present a growing threat to livestock.

Fritz says she expects wolf hunt supporters will wage a strong campaign of their own.

State wildlife experts believe there are about 700 gray wolves in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. They have been removed from the federal endangered species list.