Wild Land Guardians

05/06/2013

At the beginning of last week we went on air to ask for a transparent understanding of the issues surrounding SB 288, and that "science" be brought to the table. On Tuesday our legislators showed no apparent interest in honoring either of those requests. And on Friday, Representative Dianda still didn't appear to understand exactly what he had just voted in support of.

The proposed hunt is not about targeting the "45 or 50 wolves that are coming in to town", as he put it. Even if that were the case, would a random hunt next November be the solution to such a problem? There exists research that suggests it may be that such a a management tool might actually disrupt pack dynamics enough to increase unwanted behaviors. If safety was really of paramount importance in this Representative's office, perhaps a little more time should have been spent understanding the complete issue at hand.

For us, we will continue our quest for logic and reason within the Capitol in regard to this issue. The end of the line appears to be Governor Snyder, and we have secured a meeting with his Northern Michigan Office tomorrow afternoon in Marquette. If SB 228 is truly about furthering the scientific process of wildlife management, then we must demand this be apparent. There is no option for shifting the focus on the idea of "outside interests" here. We are a grass-roots group based in the peninsula where the wolves reside. It doesn't get any more local than this.

MARQUETTE, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – 110th District State Representative Scott Dianda of Calumet stopped in on The SUNNY Morning Show with Walt & Mike today to discuss the passing of legislation allowing the state Natural Resources Commission to designate game species and set hunts for those s...

05/02/2013

We wanted to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone in the Lower Peninsula who wrote in and showed up to the Capitol in an effort to stand up against SB 288 over the last couple of days. It's frustrating to be so far away. Thanks for having our back.

We also feel the need to apologize for the way our U.P. legislators treated many of you on Tuesday. By not being able to make it down to Lansing ourselves with just 18 hours notice, it afforded them the opportunity to paint you in a second rate light merely because of your zip code. That is unacceptable to us. Please know that there are a number of residents up here who share your convictions.

In a last ditch effort, we took to the radio waves this past Monday morning to urge our legislators to see science and represent us all on this matter. Instead, they chose to turn their backs on us, and attempted to silence you. But this is not yet over. The final stop as we search for logic in Lansing will be the office of Governor Rick Snyder. We must continue this fight to Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, together!

MARQUETTE, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – As House Republicans in Lansing move ahead with an expected vote on a set of hunting bills today, the controversy over the issue of which animals can be hunted in Michigan continues.

05/01/2013

We gave Representative Kivela everything he needed and more to come out of this as a true Representative of the people. We don't live in fear of wolves in the 109th. We live in fear of those walking upright on Ottawa Street in Lansing.

Today, the "misinformation" didn't come from Washington D.C. It came from Marquette, and it was spread across the Capitol. Disappointment all around.

The bill, which has already passed the Senate and now moves to the full House, would circumvent the 250,000 signatures turned in to the Secretary of State to ban a wolf hunt. That petition drive sought to overturn a law passed last year allowing the hunt, but the new bill supercedes that law.

04/30/2013

18 hours of notice. 18 hours before misrepresentation.
SB 288 will get pushed through the House tomorrow. In our home district, there hasn't been a verified act of depredation since 2010. Still, our Representative supports SB 288 in an effort to "listen to his constituents." It doesn't matter who your Rep is or which Rep you call at this point. Michigan is being misrepresented. Make some phone calls tomorrow morning, however many you can. We're running out of time.

http://house.michigan.gov/MHRPublic/

04/29/2013

Wild Land Guardians' Adam Robarge will be a guest on tomorrow's Morning Show at 8am. SB 288/HB 4552 will be the topic of discussion. The show can be streamed online via the web link provided below.

We've certainly heard and read a lot about the issue up here from those in support of a public wolf hunt. But there are two sides to every story. And we're pretty excited to be given the opportunity to interject a little bit of logic into the discussion. A little logic, can go a long way.

Start your day off right with a tasty blend of information, entertainment and your favorite music on The Sunny Morning Show with Walt and Mike!

04/25/2013

We expected this to pass. We must continue our work with the House of Representatives. Hope can even be found in Senator Casperson's comments. He was quoted after the vote today in regard to removing the budget appropriation as saying, "Let's debate it on the science and the merit on the bill." All attention can and should be fixed on these ideals alone.

It's not enough to call or email your Representative and simply ask them to oppose SB 288. They want to know why. They want to know you are informed, and not merely acting upon the wishes of an "outside" entity. Take the time to do this. Force them to bring science to the table.

A proposed wolf hunt would be limited to three portions of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

04/25/2013

Guardians of the gray wolf listened intently to the words of Dr. Vuceitch on the Captiol steps this past Tuesday. So intent, people often forgot to cheer at opportune moments, rather remaining focused upon what would be said next.

He spoke of science, and in truths. The recent DNR population survey does not actually suggest that the wolf population in the Upper Peninsula is declining. The correct interpretation is that the population is leveling off, naturally. So the DNR suggests that the proposed hunt is to protect human safety, rather than population control. However as Dr. Vucetich implored, "Threats to human safety, when they occur, had better be dealt with swiftly, precisely, thoroughly and immediately. Protecting human safety cannot wait until the upcoming hunting season."

He discussed the decline in hunting and the increase in negative attitudes toward its practitioners. He told us, "Studies show that the public will overwhelmingly support hunting methods when given good reason to do so." And that hunting the wolf will result in a further mistrust of this act steeped in our cultural heritage. There exists no good reason to randomly hunt members of the gray wolf population.

We sat by his side in the offices of legislators while he attempted to educate them. For these bills now named the "Scientific Wildlife Management Package" are meant to encourage just that, science. But for the most part, they weren't listening. This was an expert, a scientist from our own state of Michigan sitting in front of them. They remained fixed on the idea of outside interests and their information. And on representing a portion of our inside residents, and their phobias.

It's hard to know how or where to keep fighting when our legislators won't see science or listen to truths. The only option for us is to keep fighting, no matter of the defeats. The truth will shine through. For it is all that truly exists.

02/27/2013

This "docudrama" is as good as any out there, and is HIGHLY relevant to our geographical location. Humans certainly aren't the only species affected by the water issues we face, so please consider attending.

Tapped is a film that examines the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil.