Gray wolves on the prowl in Wolverine State

Author: Brandon Middleton

The gray wolf controversy has received quite a bit of coverage in the Rocky Mountain states, justifiably so.  Unfortunately, it looks like folks in Michigan have also had to deal with gray wolves and the harsh unintended consequences of the Endangered Species Act:

Michigan's gray wolves have attacked Upper Peninsula farms more times this year than the past three combined, killing a record number of livestock as state officials continue to push to remove federal protections for the endangered animal.

Farmers are reimbursed by the state for livestock killed in confirmed attacks, but the process can be frustrating because federal law leaves landowners and wildlife officials hamstrung in dealing with repeated attacks from rogue wolf packs, officials say.

Two dogs, 57 cattle, seven sheep and a guinea hen have fallen victim to wolves this year.