MARQUETTE TWP., Mich. (WZMQ) – The Michigan DNR’s Eastern and Western UP Citizens Advisory Councils held a joint meeting Wednesday in Marquette TWP.
On the agenda were issues such as the declining deer population, the effect wolves have on that population, and a report on the number of moose in the UP. The meeting was an opportunity for the public to ask questions of DNR officials, and express concerns about the fragile ecosystem in the UP.
One issue that has gained attention is the declining deer population. Bryan Reynolds of the UP Whitetails Association explains.
“Our deer populations are as low as it’s been in many, many, years, and that part of that is habitat loss, hunting regulations, and predation by wolves and coyotes,” said Reynolds.
One point of concern is the possible effect a growing wolf population has on the declining number of deer.
Tom Solka of the Western Up Citizens Advisory Council says this about the UP deer numbers.
“It is declining, and we also know there’s an increase in the wolf population, whether there’s a correlation or not. Certainly is a hot topic of discussion,” said Solka.
Things are much worse in the Eastern UP Advisory Council Chair Thomas Buckingham explains.
In the Eastern UP, there are areas where it’s almost low to no deer numbers,” said Buckingham.
Currently, wolves are protected as an endangered species and are not hunted, but whether they are the cause of the decrease in deer harvest, one thing is certain.
“We’re one bad winter away from it being a disaster, I think, because we’ve lost so many deer already,” said Reynolds.
