House avoids vote on wolf trapping ban

Wolf after kill
A wolf hustles away from a freshly killed carcass with a leg section. Not all prey are fully consumed at the kill site.
Steve Foss for MPR

Wolf hunting opponents have put off an effort for now to get Minnesota lawmakers to stop wolf trapping.

Rep. Jason Isaacson on Thursday shelved his amendment to a natural resources bill that would have imposed a five-year moratorium on wolf trapping, retroactive to when the state's wolves came off the endangered list last year. It would have opened a public comment before trapping could resume.

The amendment also included a four-year ban on taking wolves in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It was deferred without a vote or indication when it would arise again.

A Senate committee approved a five-year wolf hunting-and-trapping moratorium a month ago, but that proposal has advanced no further.

Hunters and trappers killed 413 wolves in Minnesota's first wolf season, which ended in January.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.