SF632

Purpose

This bill would change how Minnesota manages wolves by creating an annual open season for hunting wolves, but only after wolves are delisted under the federal Endangered Species Act. It also aims to align wolf hunting rules with the state’s wolf management plan.

Main Provisions

• Open season after delisting: There shall be no open season for wolves until wolves are delisted under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. After delisting, the commissioner may set open seasons and restrictions for taking wolves, but must allow for public comment.
• Alignment with the wolf management plan: Any season restrictions and other requirements must be consistent with the goals identified in the wolf management plan adopted under section 97B.646.
• Interagency consultation: The commissioner must annually consult with the commissioner of agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) before determining season restrictions and other open-season requirements.
• Review of depredation and human conflict data: The required consultation must include a review of data on wolf depredation of livestock and pets, as well as other incidents of human-wolf conflict.

How this changes existing law

• Conditional open-season framework: The bill amends Minn. Stat. 2024, section 97B.645 subdivision 9 to create an open-season framework that is contingent on federal delisting status, rather than a general or immediate open season.
• Public involvement and data-guided decisions: It adds requirements for public comment on open-season rules and mandates regular reviews of livestock/pet depredation and human-conflict data to guide season decisions.
• Formal interagency process: It introduces an annual interagency consultation with the agriculture department and USDA APHIS to inform wolf-hunting rules, tying wildlife management to depredation and human-conflict data.

Implementation & Oversight

• Timing tied to delisting: The ability to establish an open season depends on wolves being delisted under the Endangered Species Act.
• Ongoing review and planning: The open-season rules must align with the state’s wolf management plan, and decisions must be informed by annual data reviews and interagency input.

Terminology Used

• Open season for wolves
• Wolves
• Endangered Species Act of 1973
• Delisted
• Wolf management plan
• Section 97B.646
• Commissioner
• Commissioner of Agriculture
• USDA APHIS
• Season restrictions
• Taking wolves
• Public comment
• Wolf depredation
• Livestock
• Pets
• Human conflict

Relevant Terms - wolves - open season - annual open season - Endangered Species Act of 1973 - delisted - wolf management plan - 97B.646 - 97B.645 - season restrictions - taking wolves - public comment - commissioner of agriculture - USDA APHIS - depredation - livestock - pets - human conflict