21st, 22nd bear hounds killed pursuing WI wildlife trophies
And that's 22 hounds killed just this year because Wisconsin laws and Department of Natural Resources procedures let hounding hunters put their dogs at risk - - and get paid by the state if things don't work out for the dog.
The politically-powerful bear hunting lobby in Wisconsin wanted hounds allowed to run after bears through known wolf activity territories - - and even where hunters have put out bear bait that also attracts wolves - - so it is not surprising, but deeply unsettling, that more and more of 'man's-best-friends' become disposable in the only state in the US that also pays hunters exempted from animal cruelty laws up to $2,500 for a dog lost to wolves while in pursuit of bears.
More details at the DNR's grey wolf webpage, cited in this DNR email this afternoon:
The politically-powerful bear hunting lobby in Wisconsin wanted hounds allowed to run after bears through known wolf activity territories - - and even where hunters have put out bear bait that also attracts wolves - - so it is not surprising, but deeply unsettling, that more and more of 'man's-best-friends' become disposable in the only state in the US that also pays hunters exempted from animal cruelty laws up to $2,500 for a dog lost to wolves while in pursuit of bears.
More details at the DNR's grey wolf webpage, cited in this DNR email this afternoon:
Bear Hounds Killed in Oneida County
On October 4, Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves killed a 6 year old Plott bear hound. The attack occurred in the Town of Minocqua, Oneida County. More information and a caution area map are available on the gray wolf webpage.
On October 5, Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves killed a 6 year old Plott bear hound. The attack occurred in the Town of Little Rice, Oneida County.
Hunters are reminded to use the caution area maps on the DNR website (dnr.wi.gov, keyword "wolf management") to help reduce conflicts during this year's bear dog training and hunting season.
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6 comments:
Seems like these guys should be charged with cruelty and have their day in court. These dogs obviously aren't pets they're bait so that their owners can kill a trophy bear or wolf. It is pure and simple inhumane treatment and these individuals should be prohibited from possessing further dogs of any kind. The practice of rewarding these so called sportsmen for killing their dogs should be legislated out of existence.
How much has been paid out so far?
Where is the money coming from (fees, taxes)?
Who is receiving the money, majority Wisconsinites or out-of-staters?
Why can't a public, searchable, cumulative (not just one year) database of people receiving this money be created?
The names of these dog owners should be published. I consider people who do this type of hunting to be subhuman who see their dogs as a tool like any other in their shed, used to get a job done. Certainly if they cared about their dogs as pets or even as creatures that feel pain, they wouldn't be putting them in these situations. My question has always been, what's stopping these subhumans from adopting hounds from animal shelters (plenty to be found out there up for adoption) and taking them out with the intention of sacrificing them to make a profit?
Maybe printing the names of the asses collecting on these dogs would do the trick of discouraging this carnage.
Sue,
The money for all depredation payments, not just for the dogs killed by wolves comes from the sale of wolf license applications, and actual wolf licenses.
Tess,
Maybe if the wolf population were reduced to the goal of 350, we would not have these depredation problems.
@Anon 8:28 p.m. No - - these payments have been made for many years prior to the wolf licensing fees. the total to hounders is more than $500,000.
James, you are correct. The money that compensated for all depredation claims, not just for hounds, or depredation by wolves, but all depredation from any endangered species, came from the VOLUNTARY purchase of the endangered resources license plate, not from the tax payers. So what is your point?
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