DNR News Release

For Immediate Release:

Jan. 4, 2021

Questions? Contact DNR Information Center by email or call 888-646-6367.

Wolf conservation continues to be a DNR priority
Although federal Endangered Species Act protections for wolves end on Jan. 4, Minnesota laws have and will continue to protect wolves and ensure the responsible stewardship of this important wildlife species.

Minnesota has the largest wolf population in the lower 48 states and is home to an estimated 2,700 wolves across nearly 40,000 square miles of northern and central Minnesota. Through the efforts of federal, state and tribal partners, the wolf population is well established in all parts of its suitable range.

“Our wolf population is a reflection of all the management efforts of federal, state and tribal partners, and includes a strong monitoring program here in Minnesota that enables us to make sound decisions,” said Dave Olfelt, Department of Natural Resources Fish and Wildlife Division director.

Olfelt said changes in the wolf’s legal status have occurred multiple times since 2007, but the future of Minnesota’s wolf population is secure and the DNR commitment to active and effective wolf management will continue.

“Because of the success of wolf conservation in Minnesota and the fact that wolves and humans share the same landscape, there is also the potential for conflict,” Olfelt said. “Management balances a robust wolf population with effective tools for addressing conflicts with livestock and pets.”

On Jan. 4, per existing state law, Minnesota will recognize two management zones. Zone A, the northeastern part of
the state, has more protections for wolves, while Zone B, which represents the southern two-thirds of the state, has more flexibility for people to manage wolves to protect livestock and pets.

In the core range (Zone A), state law allows owners of livestock, guard animals, or domestic animals to shoot or destroy wolves that pose an immediate threat to their animals, on property they own or lease, in accordance with local statutes. “Immediate threat” means the owner observed a wolf in the act of stalking, attacking, or killing livestock, a guard animal, or a domestic pet under the supervision of the owner.

In all cases, a person shooting or destroying a wolf under these provisions must protect all evidence, and report the taking to a DNR conservation officer within 48 hours. The wolf carcass must be surrendered to the conservation officer.

In the southern two-thirds of the state (Zone B), a person may shoot a wolf at any time to protect livestock, domestic animals or domestic pets on land they own, lease, or manage. The “immediate threat” circumstance does not apply. The owner must notify a DNR conservation officer within 48 hours of taking the wolf and must surrender the wolf carcass to the conservation officer. People in Zone B also may employ a state certified wolf predator controller to trap wolves on or within one mile of land they own, lease or manage.

State statute also allows harassment of wolves that are within 500 yards of people, buildings, livestock or domestic pets to discourage wolves from contacting people and domestic animals. Wolves cannot be attracted or searched out for purposes of harassment and harassment cannot result in physical harm to the wolf(ves).

Similar to federal regulations, state statute allows anyone to take a wolf to defend human life. Any wolves taken in the course of defending human life must be reported to a DNR conservation officer within 48 hours, and evidence must be protected.

Ha 2,700 wolves! Good one.

30 years ago, yes

Mn has way more problems than the wolves. Its a real shame the good folks there are outnumbered by a bunch of liberal minded idiots.

Truth

But, that being said...what will it take for Minnesota to change to a Management Mindset???

Some tragedy?

So then Dorothy turned to the MN DNR and said “what would you do with a brain if you had one?”.

Osky

Sounds like they do have it figured out. There will be no harvest season under the current administration no matter what the science says. But just keep on voting those Democrats in regardless of the consequences.

MN DNR is mearly a hand puppet for the Governor on this one.

That’s too bad. Ecology should always trump emotion.

Yep, and this is the same Governor that has been squawking about how we have to follow the science for months.

Extremely hypocritical, I don’t care which side of the political spectrum you’re on, you can’t be pro science on one thing but not another.

I heard on Minnesota PBS radio today

A Scientific special Guest, said (in regards to covid recommendations) "Science usually SELF CORRECTS"

SAY What?????

How about a Bart Simpson quote; I didn't do it and you can't prove it if I did.

I guess they’ve just given a lot of people reason to keep an extra shovel handy.

Osky

No more true words said. This state is full of virtual signaling morons intent on wearing their mask and listening to our Governor Uncle Folksy. Wolves crawling out of our butts up here. No deer, no moose, wolves coming into Duluth and picking off pets.

My high school kid hasn't been in school since March and today was the first day of hockey practice. Guess what? They have to wear masks on the ice....can't make this stuff up.

Here's the main shift in MN that most don't realize. This comes from someone I spoke to recently (whom has been a big part of the DNR for a couple decades). He is also a trapper.

He stated that the DNR will always do what their customers want. Their customers ( those who bring in the most money annually) has recently shifted. The people who are now bringing in most of the money are no longer hunter/fishers and trappers but rather those who oppose many of those activities....so laws will change to satisfy those "customers". All we have to do to look at California to see how their "customer" base has changed their game laws.

When you view what the DNR is doing based on this man's internal viewpoint, a lot of the laws and policies the DNR has been making comes into focus.

He also "thought" that the MN DNR will cancel trapping 100% sooner than later. Don't miss a day on the trapline, folks. It might not be here much longer.

Calvin that’s disheartening to say the least. We have to figure out as a industry (meaning all outdoor activities) that we have to work together. From trappers to turkey hunters to deer hunting to fishing every association should have the others back. This includes the NRA and Cabelas two groups I’m not proud of at the present time to the guys that make boxes for the ammo and the rubber in our boots. The left always pick the weakest link to start with and we are it.

The other part is that the liberals have infected the college education system including wildlife biology, to the point that its no longer known as wildlife biology, the field is now known as conservation biology. Much of this change occurred in the early to mid 1990s. Conservation biology doesn't emphasize traditional game management principles. Concepts such as compensatory mortality, if taught, is scoffed at as old thinking or more likely not taught at all. Everything is preservation now. I have interviewed well over 100 college grads over the last ten years for entry level positions. I can remember 5 that could explain the principle of compensatory mortality properly, which is a strong justification for support of hunting. In the new way of thinking all you need is a model (often built with poor data), a fancy arc-gis map and an opinion that all hunting mortality is additive and add in liberal dominated politicians and you have a terrible storm for consumptive users. That is very common today. Sure their are some game management based kids out there getting jobs but the proportion is very low. Not a promising outlook.

Well said. I’ve participated with F&G wolf studies and the libs make it hard to successfully trap and collar a wolf due to all the rules. One trap per set, can’t set in open areas (stressful for the wolf) can’t set near a steep bank or body of water, can’t set where they might get hung up on the road, can only set their modified mb750s.