A concurrent resolution to urge the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the federal government, to re-establish a viable and self-sustaining wolf population in the Lower Peninsula.
The resolution emphasizes the ecological significance of gray wolves in their habitat, arguing that their reintroduction could enhance biodiversity and improve the health of prey populations. Wolves prey on weak or sick animals, potentially reducing the spread of diseases within deer populations such as chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis. Thus, the re-establishment of wolves may lead to benefits not only for the ecosystem but also for local wildlife health.
In order for this resolution to take effect, it is contingent upon the enactment of the corresponding House Bill or Senate Bill associated with the 102nd Legislature. The resolution seeks to transmit its requests to various governmental figures, underscoring its seriousness and the desired coordination between state and federal agencies in achieving the re-establishment of this wolf population.
HCR0002 is a concurrent resolution urging the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of the Interior to re-establish a viable and self-sustaining population of gray wolves in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The resolution highlights the historical presence of wolves in Michigan, noting that they were extirpated from the Lower Peninsula by the mid-20th century due to various human activities. It also acknowledges the recovery of the wolf population in the Upper Peninsula, which has been successful since around 2007.
Support for the resolution is strong among many Lower Peninsula residents, who express a desire for their own sustainable wolf populations. Despite this, there have been historical conflicts regarding wolf management, particularly regarding their classification as a game species and the methods employed to control their population. The resolution notes public communications defending the importance and allure of living alongside wolves, contrasting with some residents' views in the Upper Peninsula who may see them as threats to livestock and safety.