The following is a statement from Jill Fritz, director of the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected campaign, in response to today’s Mlive.com article, “Cattle farmer John Koski, divisive symbol in Michigan wolf hunt, to plead in animal neglect case”

Michigan Muslim Community Council’s executive director, along with the Islamic Society of North America and its president, announced their support of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected and its referendum campaigns to stop the trophy hunting of wolves.

Keep Michigan Wolves Protected submitted more than 229,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office to place a second referendum on the November 4 ballot that would protect wolves and restore the right of Michigan voters to weigh in on critical wildlife issues. Michigan voters from all 83 counties have signed petitions on two ballot referendums expressing their support for the protection of Michigan’s fledging wolf population and displeasure with the Legislature’s approval of wolf hunting and taking their voting rights away.

LANSING, MI - It seems only fitting that Michigan’s first wolf trophy hunting season, which was authorized by legislation based on  falsehoods and tall tales about marauding wolves, would end in most of its 1,200 licensees failing to shoot a wolf. The final death toll was 23 wolves, in spite of the use of bait and predator callers to lure the shy, elusive wolf out into the open to be shot.

Keep Michigan Wolves Protected works to restore the rights of Michigan voters to impact wildlife policy

 “Wolves are magnificent creatures, related to the dogs we share our lives with, and are just beginning to recover from the brink of extinction,” said MUTTS creator and cartoonist Patrick McDonnell. “I join with the residents of Michigan who are deeply saddened by the beginning of today’s wolf hunting season, and urge all my fans and readers in Michigan to help gather signatures and put this issue on the ballot in November 2014.

Protests “Senseless Killing of These Majestic Animals for Sport”

Michigan native Iggy Pop, a music legend and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has endorsed the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected campaign to stop the trophy hunting of wolves and restore the right of Michigan voters to have a say over wildlife policy. Michigan’s first wolf hunt in decades begins tomorrow.

Ads call on Gov. Snyder to stop the hunt and leave the decision to the state’s voters in a year

LANSING MI - With the start of Michigan’s wolf trophy hunting season just four days away, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected has launched a new TV ad campaign highlighting an investigative news report’s findings that state officials used falsehoods, embellishments, and fear-mongering to win legislative approval of a wolf hunt. The ads are running in Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids.

MLive.com's Investigative Series Reveals "How half-truths, falsehoods and one farmer distorted reason for historic hunt"

LANSING, MICH. – In the wake of an independent investigation conducted by Michigan Live that showed outright falsehoods and concocted stories about wolf incidents in the Upper Peninsula, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected called the behavior of state officials shameful and urged Gov. Rick Snyder to put a stop to the imminent wolf hunting season that begins on Nov. 15.