Wolf Patrol Continues Monitoring Bear Baiting Near Depredation & Poisoning Sites

Wolf Patrol has been monitoring bear baiting in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests (CNNF), primarily in areas where wolves have killed bear hounds in recent weeks. To date, 25 bear hounds have been killed by wolves in Wisconsin since bear baiting & hound training/hunting began in July 2020.

This Raccoon was one of many animals poisoned near Chipmunk Rapids on the Pine River in March 2019.

One of the bait locations that we visited this past weekend isn’t far from where two pet dogs and a number of other wildlife was poisoned in March 2019 near Chipmunk Rapids in the CNNF. Exposed bait found at bear bait sites like that found at this location can attract deer as well as wolves.

Bear baiting, not wolves is the problem in Wisconsin’s national forests where unlimited baiting is allowed annually from April until October.

At least three individuals have stated privately that bear hunters are responsible for the poisonings, in retaliation for bear hounds killed recently as well as in past years. Wisconsin’s bear hunters think wolves are the problem, but the real problem is unlimited and unlicensed bear baiting in our national forests.

Wisconsin bear hunter complaining about wolves visiting his bear bait in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, September 2020.

Join Wolf Patrol in calling on forest and wildlife officials to end bear baiting in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and other Wisconsin public lands!

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest officials:

cnnfadmin@fs.fed.us

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board:

Laurie.Ross@wisconsin.gov