(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/12/23). Animal rights activists packed the Natural Resource Commission meeting Thursday to speak out against adding nine animals to the nuisance list, which would allow killing and trapping them in certain situations without a permit.
After hours of public comment, acting DNR Director Shannon LOTT announced that she would be signing the expansion of the animals considered a nuisance to include woodchuck, skunk, raccoon, coyote, opossum, cottontail rabbit, fox squirrel, grey squirrel, ground squirrel and red squirrel. Muskrat and beaver will also be on the list but in a more limited form.
“Acting Director Lott appreciates all the comments we have received regarding the proposed changes to nuisance wildlife regulations. We are grateful that people are so passionate about Michigan wildlife,” DNR spokesperson Ed Golder said.
Nichole Keway Biber, a member of the Anishinaabek Caucus, and Molly Tamulevich, Michigan director of the Humane Society of the United States, said they were devastated that the director didn’t deny signing the rules changes.
Biber said there was no justification for passing the rules changes, and the Director was just ignoring public input.
“They totally just ignored the Earth,” said Moses Biber, Nichole’s 9-year-old son.
Golder said the changes to the regulations would allow landowners to lessen the damage caused by the common species added to the list in certain situations.
He said the DNR already commonly issues permits, and the situations approved in which the nuisance animals could be trapped or killed are already never denied. He said the DNR does not expect an increase in the number of animals killed or population impacts.
“This will allow a landowner to respond more rapidly to emerging issues while reducing the administrative burden,” Golder said.
Nichole Biber said the process is undemocratic, because it allows for a small group of people to make the decision on behalf of the public.
She said the group would be heading to the Legislature to try to make the rulemaking process more democratic.
“In the five years of coming to the Natural Resources Commission, I’ve learned a lot about the way wildlife policy is made and the circuitous and difficult process to weigh in as a member of the public,” Tamulevich said.
