State Rep. Greg Markkanen testifies before the House Natural Resources Committee in support of his resolution urging the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to remove the gray wolf from the federal endangered and threatened species list in Michigan.

LANSING – State Rep. Greg Markkanen testified Tuesday before the House Natural Resources Committee in support of his resolution urging the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to remove the gray wolf from the federal endangered and threatened species list in Michigan.

Markkanen,R-Hancock, said gray wolves have been protected from harm in Michigan since 1974, when it was determined that they needed the special protection provided by the federal Endangered Species Act to aid their recovery. The recovery plan established at the time called for a combined population of 100 wolves in Michigan and Wisconsin for five consecutive years for delisting to occur.

“The wolf population in Michigan and Wisconsin has far exceeded 100 for more than a decade now. In fact, the two-state population is now estimated to top 1,000,” Markkanen said. “It’s time to move from federal to state control and allow the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to control the population of this predator.”

House Resolution 87 was approved by the Natural Resources Committee, advancing it to the full House for consideration.