HF 2680

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/03/2014 03:13pm

A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; modifying wolf management provisions; providing
limits on wolf baiting; providing for temporary suspension of wolf hunt;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 97B.646; 97B.647, subdivision 3,
by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97B.646, is amended to read:

97B.646 WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN.

new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture, shall
adopt a wolf management plan that includes new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end goals to ensure the long-term survival of the wolf in Minnesota, to reduce
conflicts between wolves and humans, to minimize depredation of livestock and domestic
pets, and to manage the ecological impact of wolves on prey species and other predators deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (2) an annual wolf census; and
new text end

new text begin (3) educational strategies and development of materials for reducing conflicts
between wolves and humans.
new text end

new text begin (b) The wolf management plan must be reviewed annually by an advisory task force
appointed by the commissioner. The task force is governed by section 15.059, subdivision
6. The task force must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) representatives of environmental organizations;
new text end

new text begin (2) representatives of agricultural organizations;
new text end

new text begin (3) representatives of hunting and trapping organizations;
new text end

new text begin (4) representatives of wolf advocate organizations;
new text end

new text begin (5) representatives of government agencies;
new text end

new text begin (6) at least one biologist who is not employed by and does not receive funding from
the Department of Natural Resources; and
new text end

new text begin (7) private citizens with a specific interest in wolf management issues.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97B.647, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Open areas.

new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner may by rule designate areas where
wolves may be taken.

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if requested by tribal leadership, the
commissioner shall close federally recognized tribal lands to hunting and trapping wolves.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97B.647, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Baiting limitation. new text end

new text begin Baiting wolves is prohibited within ten miles of tribal
lands where taking wolves is prohibited.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin SUSPENSION OF WOLF HUNT; WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN.
new text end

new text begin (a) The open seasons for taking wolves authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section
97B.647, are suspended in order to study outcomes of the wolf hunt on the wolf population
and to implement the wolf management plan. The suspension continues and no wolves
may be taken until the requirements in paragraphs (b) to (e) are met and the results are
submitted to the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over
natural resource policy.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of natural resources must provide comprehensive, publicly
accessible data of all known wolf deaths and illnesses in the state, including deaths
from the destruction of wolves authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 97B.645,
poaching, and car kills.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner of natural resources must conduct a study of public sentiment
towards wolves, including issues related to intolerance.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner of natural resources, in consultation with the commissioner of
agriculture, must develop comprehensive best management practices (BMPs) that may be
used by livestock producers to reduce and prevent wolf depredation. The BMPs should
include both lethal and nonlethal control methods. The commissioner must disseminate
the BMPs to livestock producers through traditional and digital media platforms.
new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner of natural resources must produce a map of wolf and human
conflicts, including wolf predation on livestock.
new text end

new text begin (f) In support of the annual wolf census required under Minnesota Statutes, section
97B.646, the commissioner of natural resources must increase the number of trained
wolf counters in zone B.
new text end