Public Comments Sought For Update Of Gray Wolf Management Plan

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - State officials are inviting the public to comment as they revise a plan for overseeing Michigan's gray wolf population.

The Department of Natural Resources plan was adopted in 2008, four years before the federal government removed wolves in the Great Lakes region from the endangered species list and put the states in charge.

DNR officials say the plan's primary goals will remain the same. Among them are maintaining a viable wolf population and minimizing conflicts between people and wolves.

Review of the plan update will occur in two distinct phases.

The first phase will consist of a 30-day period in which citizens can provide comment on the implementation of actions in the 2008 plan. Comments will be accepted through Dec. 11 via an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/wolfplanupdate.

The second phase will be a 30-day period to comment on the updated plan before it goes to the Natural Resource Commission for endorsement and the DNR director for consideration.

Those unable to participate in the survey electronically are asked to contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 to receive a paper survey.

The DNR says it hopes to have the wolf plan update completed by spring of 2015.

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