Dear Wildlife Defender, 

This is a pivotal, action-packed week for Wisconsin’s wildlife—and Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance (GLWA) is leading the charge. With Thanksgiving just over a week away, we’re ramping up efforts to protect wolves and sandhill cranes from reckless legislation. Your immediate action and support will make all the difference in this sprint to safeguard iconic Great Lakes species such as wolves and cranes.

There are still threats coming from every way whether it is through the Trump administration see listing Congressional delisting and anti-esa legislation, appropriation bills and now even horrible State legislative action on wolves and cranes

In just the past month, GLWA has been on fire—mobilizing, educating, and fighting back against every threat to Wisconsin’s wildlife and wild places. Here’s what we’ve accomplished together:

– 🚨 Sounded the alarm on permanent wolf hunting rules that prioritize politics over science—and rallied thousands to oppose them. 
– 🐺 Galvanized communities statewide to support our petition for state protections for wolves, building a safety net in case federal safeguards are stripped. 
– 📣 Exposed the dangers of the reintroduced wolf population cap bill, launching media campaigns, prepping testimony, and activating grassroots resistance. 
– 🦤 Joined forces with top conservation groups to oppose the sandhill crane hunting bill—highlighting proven, non-lethal solutions to crop damage. 
– 🧠 Educated agencies and lawmakers on wolf coexistence, delivering petitions and testimony across Wisconsin and empowering citizens to speak out. 
– 🎙️ Defended federal ESA protections for gray wolves in a national interview, amplifying the urgency of keeping wolves protected. 
– 📝 Signed onto over 15 federal letters opposing dangerous appointments, anti-wildlife appropriations, and attacks on the Endangered Species Act. 
– 🌲 Fought back against Trump-era rollbacks—including the “Fix Our Forests Act,” public lands access threats, and the removal of lead bans. 
– 🏞️ Stood up for our national parks, defending wild spaces from exploitation and erosion. 
– 🧨 Criticized extinction delistings at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service hearing in Washington, D.C., calling out the political manipulation of science. 
– 📰 Earned major media coverage in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Public Radio, and WORT Radio—bringing our message to thousands. 
– 🤝 Launched Wildlife Wednesdays, a weekly strategy session to build community, share updates, and mobilize action.

These wins are powered by you—but the threats are intensifying. Politicians are trying to lock Wisconsin into lethal, outdated wildlife management. We won’t let them.


🐺 What’s in the Wolf Cap Bill?

Rep. Chanz Green and Sen. Rob Stafsholt’s bill would require the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to set a fixed numerical population goal for wolves in its management plan. This hard cap would trigger mandated hunts if exceeded—regardless of pack health, breeding season, or ecological conditions. 

The bill revives a proposal vetoed in 2024, which Governor Evers rejected for being too rigid and politically driven. If passed, it would: 
– Lock Wisconsin into outdated management strategies. 
– Undermine tribal sovereignty and science-based conservation. 
– Prioritize lethal control over coexistence and non-lethal deterrents. 

We reject this bill because it:
– Ignores ecological nuance and adaptive management. 
– Treats wolves as a quota, not a keystone species. 
– Codifies a hunt mandate that bypasses public input and science. 


🦤 What’s in the Crane Hunt Bill?

Assembly Bill 117 / Senate Bill 112 would authorize a regulated hunting season for sandhill cranes, a species that was nearly eliminated from Wisconsin a century ago. 

The bill would: 
– Fast-track a hunt without guaranteed federal approval. 
– Exempt the hunt from emergency rule procedures. 
– Grant the DNR broad authority to set seasons and quotas. 

GLWA opposes this bill because: 
– Non-lethal solutions already exist for crop damage. 
– Cranes are cultural icons, revered by citizens and tribes. 
– Federal protections are still in place, and this bill gambles with decades of recovery. 

👉 Immediate Action Steps—Let’s Make This Week Count:

– Contact Your Legislators NOW 
  Urge them to reject the wolf cap bill and oppose the crane hunting bill. 
  – Call the Legislative Hotline: 608‑266‑9960 or 1‑800‑362‑9472 
  – Email your reps: legis.wisconsin.gov 

– Attend the Crane Hunt Hearing 
  🗓️ Wednesday, November 19 at 9:00 a.m. CST 
  📍 Room 201 Southeast, Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison 
  – Testify in person, join virtually via Google Meet, or submit written comments to the committee clerk

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Join Wildlife Wednesdays: Your Weekly Call to Action 
  A virtual series every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. CST 
  🗓️ Next Meeting: November 19, 6:00–7:00 p.m. CST 
  🗣️ Topic: Wolf and Crane State Legislation + Federal ESA Updates 
  – Join via Google Meet or dial +1 740‑481‑2026, PIN: 676 515 682# 
  Wildlife Wednesdays are your space to connect, strategize, and act. We share updates, prep testimony, and build momentum for the wolf protection petition and other campaigns. 

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🎙️ Tune in Thursday, November 20 at 8:00 a.m. CST on WORT 89.9 FM’s “The 8 O’Clock Buzz”, Madison’s iconic morning show. GLWA will break down both bills, discuss federal ESA rollbacks, and share how you can take action. 
📻 Listen live on 89.9 FM or stream online at wortfm.org/news-talk/talk/8-oclock-buzz

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Why You Should Read the Petition 
The petition submitted by Stacy Gilson, Don Smith, and Melissa Smith is more than a call for wolf protections—it’s a masterclass in wildlife policy, ethics, and reform. It lays out the science behind why wolves need state-level safeguards, exposes the economic and ecological costs of hunting, and offers real solutions to budget shortfalls through agency reform. It includes firsthand stories from Ojibwe tribes, on-the-ground knowledge from advocates, and a clear-eyed look at how federal dismantling threatens biodiversity. If you care about wildlife, justice, and truth—this petition is essential reading.

https://share.google/zzqflAroe0RA2upMt

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And take a deep breath and enjoy this beautiful video. It might be one of the greatest Wildlife videos we’ve ever seen

And lastly… 
Please consider making a contribution to to Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance. We stand with you—as the first line of defense for wolves, cranes, and all of Wisconsin’s wildlife. In this season of giving thanks, we’re deeply grateful for your support, your voice, and your courage. Every action you take and every dollar you give helps us fight back against reckless legislation, protect endangered species, and build a future rooted in science, ethics, and coexistence

In solidarity

Melissa

And P.S.