News

Peterson seeks quick action on Gray Wolf State Management Act

The Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee is asking House Leadership to act quickly on legislation aimed at delisting the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List in parts of the Upper Midwest.

Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson sent a letter signed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to bring the Gray Wolf State Management Act to the Floor as late winter calving season begins.

“If we can get it through (the House) in a quick order and get it through the Senate and get it signed (by the President), we’d re-establish this management plan that we had before with the DNR.  And they have people they contract with that can either trap or in other ways deal with these problem wolves.”

Peterson tells Brownfield the bill would assist farmers and ranchers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Wyoming by taking away federal protections and giving authority back to the states.

“If you’ve got a wolf that’s taking calves, sheep or whatever, they can go in and deal with it.  Or, the landowner themselves can deal with it.  But under current law, if you go out there and (the wolves) are damaging your property you could potentially get in trouble if you try to deal with the wolf yourself.”

Peterson says similar legislation already passed in Montana and he believes the Wolf Management Act can get enough votes in the House and Senate to reach the President for his likely signature.