MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Last Wednesday, Governor Rick Snyder passed Senate Bill 288 which now made it possible to hunt wolves in the state. This created some uproar amongst those who want the wolves protected.

One campaign directed by Jill Fritz, called Keep Michigan Wolves Protected started a petition to defeat that legislation and garnered over 160,000 signatures. A second petition, called a veto referendum, received 255,000 signatures, and will now be put on the November 2014 ballot to once again give the people of Michigan a voice to decide if hunters should be allowed to use wolves as game.

The reason for wolves to be hunted is due to the fact the bill allows states to manage wolves instead of it being federally protected. Because of this, the gray wolf was taken off of the endangered species list in the great lakes states including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Afterwards, the latter two states passed legislation to 'aggressively hunt' wolves.

Fritz describes a similar situation that happened back in 2006, "you may remember the morning dove was up for vote in the state of Michigan. The people voted and largely said, 'no' we want to protect morning doves."

On the other side, there are groups that consider themselves pro-wolf harvesters. They believe overpopulation is the main reason to hunt wolves which would improve the quality of wildlife.

Which ever side you are on, the decision will most likely be made after the November 2014 elections.