Wolf Lawsuit Has Day in Court

The snarling over the use of dogs in the upcoming state wolf hunt moves to a courtroom in Madison Wednesday morning.

Some humane societies want a stop put to the use of dogs in the upcoming wolf hunt, until the DNR changes rules to limit dog use to tracking or trailing wolves. The DNR and state Justice Department want a Dane County judge to toss out the lawsuit. So does Bob Welch, a spokesperson for the Hunter’s Rights Coalition. Welch says there is nothing wrong with the DNR’s current rule package. “I think the DNR rules do exactly what the DNR rules do in every other species that is hunted with hounds, which is they allow it if it’s appropriate, and it’s appropriate in the case of wolves.”

Welch argues the wolf hunt is not subject to some of the laws the plaintiffs contend in their legal case. At the court hearing, lawyers for the humane societies are expected to highlight affidavits from wildlife experts who argue wolves will regard dog packs as a threat, and that attacks on dogs will be swift and furious.