In the 2014 general election, Michigan voters soundly rejected two referendums on the trophy hunting and trapping of the state’s small population of wolves. But now, the Michigan legislature has rushed through another bill, SB 1187, to once again designate wolves as a game species to be hunted and trapped—in spite of that public rejection of an almost identical measure at the ballot box just two years ago. This bill is now on the desk of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

Keep Michigan Wolves Protected filed a lawsuit in Lansing in the Michigan Court of Claims to overturn the so-called Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act on the grounds that it violates the state’s constitution. The lawsuit challenges an underhanded legislative effort intended to overturn the result of two 2014 ballot measures through which Michigan voters soundly rejected sport hunting of wolves.

The November elections results are indisputable. Voters repealed Proposal 1 (moving the wolf to the game species list) with a 55 percent “no” vote, and they defeated Proposal 2 (giving the NRC the authority to decide which species can be hunted), with a 64 percent “no” vote.  Proposal 2 was defeated in 69 of 83 counties, in a landslide rejection of NRC decision-making power.

Jill Fritz, director of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, issues the following statement

“A federal District Court has just ruled that sport hunting and trapping of wolves in the Great Lakes region must end immediately. Wolves in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are now protected. This is a huge victory for our campaign and the thousands of supporters who worked tirelessly to save these majestic animals.

Voters of all political parties want Legislature and Natural Resources Commission to heed the will of the people

LANSING, Mich. – A statewide poll of Michigan voters conducted after the election reinforces strong opposition to wolf hunting and a strong desire not to hand power to designate game species over to the unelected Natural Resources Commission. The survey results come in the wake of the defeat of Proposals 1 and 2 and the voters’ rejection of wolf hunting and of the authority of the NRC to make these declarations.

Coalition Says State Should Vacate Its Transfer of Authority to the NRC Because the People Have Spoken Emphatically on the Issue

LANSING, Mich. – With about 50 percent of votes reported statewide and strong margins on both measures, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected has declared victory in defeating Proposals 1 and 2 in the November 4 election.

Volunteers to go door-to-door this weekend urging a NO vote

(Note to editors: Keep Michigan Wolves Protected campaign staff and volunteers will gather to watch the election results from Hobie’s Café and Pub, 930 Trowbridge Rd., East Lansing after the polls close at 8 p.m., Nov. 4.)

Actress announces support of efforts to stop Michigan’s wolf hunt 

On the eve of the Nov. 4 election, voters asked to protect wolves