Wisconsin Senate , Weighing Bill to Set , Wolf Hunting Limit.
On October 17, the Wisconsin Senate was scheduled to pass a bill that would force state wildlife managers to determine a goal for the state's wolf population.
Fox News reports that the bill comes after the Department of Natural Resources failed to set a hard cap on the state's wolf population.
Under the department's new management plan, it recommended that the wolf population be maintained around 1,000.
Since 1999, the state has operated under a wolf management plan limiting the state's wolf population at 350 animals.
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Fox News reports that the state's new plan would call on the DNR to partner with advisory committees to decide whether to reduce, maintain or allow local populations to grow.
Last month, state wildlife officials said that the bill would allow local wolf populations to fluctuate and give them a chance at maintaining those populations for years to come.
Local wolf populations have been the focus of contentious debate in Wisconsin for the last 30 years.
Farmers claim rising wolf populations have resulted in more frequent attacks on livestocks, while animal rights advocates say wolf populations are too fragile to support hunting.
According to Wisconsin law, the DNR is requires to hold an annual wolf hunt, however gray wolves are currently a federally protected endangered species.
As a result, the DNR has been working to update its plan in the event that wolves are federally delisted or hunting is allowed to resume in the state
