Earlier this fall, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) authorized the killing of 9 Price County wolves, eliminating almost an entire pack or family unit. According to a WPR article, here is what led to the decision:
In one report, a man provided security camera footage showing an adult collared wolf came within 6 to 8 feet of his house on two nights. Another referenced a wolf entering a clearing within 20 yards of where a man was mowing — the man said he feared his family and dog may encounter wolves while walking on trails. Another man reported spotting an uncollared juvenile wolf watching him from 45 feet away when he drove his UTV to place bear bait at the edge of the woods on his property.
Shockingly, the DNR did not inform the Tribes of the apparent concern or the plan to kill the wolves, despite wolves holding a sacred place for Ojibwe Tribes. In response to the situation and lack of notice, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) released a statement:
“This action damages existing relationships and fractures trust. We remind the WDNR and USDA Wildlife Services to involve GLIFWC and its member tribes in the decision-making processes. Simply handing us the remains of our relatives after killing them does not constitute meaningful consultation.”
Once this information became public, the Sierra Club sent a letter to the DNR asking the Department to establish a new, transparent, science-based process based on co-management with your Tribal partners for future decisions. This new system should include:
- Meaningful Tribal consultation and co-management
- Establish clear, publicly available standards for lethal removal
- Make non-lethal conflict prevention the priority
Read Sierra Club’s letter here.
Join us in calling on the DNR to establish new criteria so something like this doesn't happen again.
Here’s what you can do:
- Send a letter to the Department of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Board asking them to establish guidelines.
- Attend the Natural Resources Board Meeting on October 28. You can attend in-person or via zoom. Contact Board Liaison, Ashley Bystol, at dnrnrbliaison@wisconsin.gov to sign up to speak.
- Learn more about wolves and wolf management by signing up for the 2026 Wolf Awareness Week. Wolf Awareness Week 2026 takes place October 18-24. Please plan to join us for this exciting week focusing on wolf ecology, dispelling persistent myths, and promoting coexistence with these keystone species. Our theme this year will be “Wolf families,” using a different lens each day to examine Wisconsin wolf families - how wolf families survive together and the challenges our Wisconsin wolf families still face today. Learn more and sign up at sc.org/waw2026