Up North Progressive

On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, conservation officers received confessions from two alleged wolf poachers in the Upper Peninsula counties of Menominee and Ontonagon. Both wolves were fitted with collars so the Michigan DNR could track the wolves’ movements.

The poacher from Greenland in Ontonagon County confessed to shooting the wolf on January 14, 2019, after the collar the wolf wore alerted conservation officers she was dead. The rifle he used was seized as part of the ongoing investigation. The suspect in Menominee County confessed to shooting a male wolf on November 19, 2018, during firearm deer season. Conservation officers found the wolf’s collar, but never located the carcass of the animal.

Both suspects will be required to appear for arraignment in county court. Wolf poachers face 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine if convicted. Marquette district law officer Lt. Ryan Aho stated:

“Wolves are examples of important wildlife species that play a critical predator role in the ecosystems of the Upper Peninsula. Our conservation officers did some great work in obtaining confessions from these two individuals who killed wolves collared for study purposes by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.”

Wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, however, some Upper Peninsula residents encouraged by state elected officials, ignore federal law and illegally shoot the animals anyway following the “shoot – shovel – shut up” method of dealing with the protected species.

Poaching incidents can be reported any time to the Michigan DNR by calling the Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. For more information about the important role wolves have in keeping Michigan’s ecosystems healthy, visit Michigan.gov/Wolves.