Still some grumbling about how they would like a say on whether grey wolves should be hunted in Michigan, but word from the Department of Natural Resources indicates residents in Northern Michigan benefitted from the hunt.

The Associated Press is quoting DNR Spokesperson Adam Bump as saying a clear majority--17 of the 23 wolves taken--where from packs preying on livestock.  He says the locations where the animals were killed were typically within five miles of a farm or other place where what they call "conflicts" had been reported.

Some two thousand hunters were sold permits to thin the herd by 43 in seven counties in the U.P.  The hunt ran from November 15th through the end of last year.  The number taken fell short of what was hoped for, but DNR officials say they did what they intended to do. "We got rid of problem wolves and made the survivors more afraid of humans."

Opponents of the kill say other options of reducing the numbers were not given a chance to see if they could have accomplished the same goal but without bloodshed.

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