A bill is about to be introduced that would remove woodchucks, (also known as groundhogs), from Wisconsin’s protected species list and allow people to kill an unlimited number them almost year-round- from March 1 through Dec. 31. Wisconsin wildlife officials designated woodchucks as protected decades ago, meaning landowners can kill them when they’re on their property but anyone else would need the state Department of Natural Resources’ permission to kill one.
Rep. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere, is working on the bill and says woodchucks don’t serve protected status because they’re abundant and a nuisance.The orgins of the bill lie with a Manitowoc man named Dan Cichantek- also known as “Trapper Dan” .
We ask Wisconson to keep the present protections for groundhogs- because while they might seems like a nuisance to some the do play a critical role in ecosytems. They are preyed on by wolves, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bears and large hawks. Groundhogs are a food source for these keystone species- dont kill the groundhogs for recreational fun and sport- no one even really eats groundhogs.
SOURCE: http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/viewart/20130323/OSH0101/303230309/Lawmaker-wants-open-season-woodchucks
A bill is about to be introduced that would remove woodchucks, (also known as groundhogs), from Wisconsin’s protected species list and allow people to kill an unlimited number them almost year-round- from March 1 through Dec. 31. Wisconsin wildlife officials designated woodchucks as protected decades ago, meaning landowners can kill them when they’re on their property but anyone else would need the state Department of Natural Resources’ permission to kill one.
Rep. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere, is working on the bill and says woodchucks don’t serve protected status because they’re abundant and a nuisance.The orgins of the bill lie with a Manitowoc man named Dan Cichantek- also known as “Trapper Dan” .
We ask Wisconson to keep the present protections for groundhogs- because while they might seems like a nuisance to some the do play a critical role in ecosytems. They are preyed on by wolves, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bears and large hawks. Groundhogs are a food source for these keystone species- dont kill the groundhogs for recreational fun and sport- no one even really eats groundhogs.
SOURCE: http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/viewart/20130323/OSH0101/303230309/Lawmaker-wants-open-season-woodchucks
