Dear Wildlife Advocates, 

The U.S. government shutdown, ongoing as of October 18, 2025, is putting Wisconsin’s wolves, bats, whooping cranes, trumpeter swans, and Great Lakes fisheries in peril. Wisconsin’s permanent wolf harvest rules—set to take effect in November 2025 if wolves lose federal protections—prioritize hunting over science, threatening ecosystems and public trust. 

Wildlife Crisis Snapshot

🐺 Wolves Under Threat 
– Wisconsin’s wolf population (1,087–1,379 in 336 packs) dropped 6% during the 2018–2019 shutdown due to poaching and lax oversight. 
– With ESA enforcement stalled, illegal kills are rising. 
– The 2023 Wolf Management Plan and permanent harvest rules greenlight a November–February hunting/trapping season, despite past hunts overshooting quotas by 82%. 
– The DNR’s obsession with hunting zones and quotas ignores science and undermines public trust. 

🦇 Bats in Crisis 
– Northern long-eared bats, federally endangered since 2023, have declined 90% in Wisconsin caves due to white-nose syndrome. 
– Shutdown furloughs halt monitoring, accelerating declines. 

🕊️ Cranes & Swans at Risk 
– A whooping crane, “Ducky,” died from avian flu in September 2025—the first such global loss—with only ~700 left in the wild. 
– A trumpeter swan was poached in Langlade County echoing earlier killings at Navarino. With no federal rangers, crimes go unchecked. 

🐟 Fisheries Threatened 
– Past shutdowns caused 20–300% sea lamprey surges, endangering the $7 billion Great Lakes fishery. 

⚠️ Policy Attacks 
– Congressional riders in the next funding bill aim to gut ESA protections for wolves, grizzlies, and bats—favoring logging and pipelines over science. 

This crisis coincides with Wolf Awareness Week (October 19–25) and Bat Week (October 24–31)—our rallying cries for action. Join us for the launch of Wildlife Wednesdays on October 22 at 6:00 p.m. (CST) and our Bat Week screening of The Invisible Mammal in Milwaukee. Together, we can fight back. 

Wolf Awareness Week (Oct 19–25)
Wolf Awareness Week celebrates gray wolves as keystone species while spotlighting threats like poaching, habitat loss, and flawed policies.

To do

1. Wear your Wolf gear all week and engage with people in your community invite at least three people to Wildlife Wednesday October 22nd and at least three people too invisible mammal showing

2. Wolf Awareness Week Special Event: Luna the Life-Size Wolf at Delta Beer Lab 

📅 October 24 5:00 PM | Delta Beer Lab, Madison 

Step into Wolf Awareness Week with an evening that blends policy, community, and craft beer. Join Melissa Smith and the Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance as we bring Luna, our life-size wolf model, to Delta Beer Lab for a powerful conversation about the future of wolves and the policies that shape their survival. 

This isn’t just another talk—it’s a call to action. We’ll unpack what wolf delisting really means, why hunts begin the moment protections are stripped away, and how we can push for ethical, science-based management. 

Delta Beer Lab’s community-first atmosphere makes it the perfect place to gather, learn, and connect. Come for the conversation, stay for the camaraderie, and leave ready to make a difference. 

Let’s raise a glass—and raise our voices—for wolves.

3. Get Involved This Week
Show your passion for Wolf Awareness Week! Wear wolf-themed gear and share our wolf and bat flyers at local events, coffee shops, or community boards. 

👉 Download Flyers 

4.  Listen to Melissa Smith’s recent Wolf Connection Podcast interview here: wolfconnection.org/join-the-community/the-wolf-connection-podcast. 

5. Join us for wildlife Wednesday

Wildlife Wednesdays: Your Weekly Call to Action
We’re thrilled to launch Wildlife Wednesdays, a new weekly virtual series every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. (CST), starting October 22. 

– Next Meeting: October 22, 6:00–7:00 p.m. (CST) 
– Topic: Wolf policy failures, DNR’s hunting focus, and bat conservation
– Join: Google Meet https://meet.google.com/gcf-gjem-cbs or dial +1 740-481-2026, PIN: 676 515 682#. 

👉 Join Wildlife Wednesdays 

Bat Week (Oct 24–31)
Bat Week is a global celebration of bats’ roles in pollination, pest control, and ecosystems. Timed with Halloween, it’s a chance to engage communities and spotlight threats like white-nose syndrome. Learn more at batweek.org. 

Don’t Miss Our Bat Week Film: The Invisible Mammal
📽️ October 26, 12:00–2:30 p.m. 
📍 Oriental Theatre, Milwaukee (2230 N Farwell Ave) 
🎟️ Tickets: $13 at mkefilm.org 

This stunning documentary follows women scientists battling white-nose syndrome to save bats from extinction. Stay for a Q&A with Executive Producer Holly Mosher and special guests. 

👉 Get Your Tickets  and we will see you there in person


Why Join Us?
The shutdown and DNR’s missteps are a wake-up call. But together, we can fight back with grassroots power. Wildlife Wednesdays and our Invisible Mammal screening are your chance to stay informed, connect with experts, and take simple, effective actions each week. 

👉 Donate $25 Today to power our events and advocacy.  http://www.wiwolvesandwildlife.org/donate

Sincerely, 
Melissa Smith 
Executive Director, Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance