It would be several more days before the DNR’s resident wolf expert was made aware of the incident — through photos one of the hunters posted to Facebook. Large-carnivore specialist Brian Roell told Bridge Michigan he took one look and recognized the animal as a wolf.
But the local DNR officer, McCullough, at first refused an internal request to confiscate the animal. By the time the request was heeded days later, the wolf had been butchered for mounting. Officers confiscated the carcass, but left the hide behind pending genetic testing.
Two months later, tests confirmed the animal was a wolf, but by then the hide had been taxidermied. Officers confiscated the mount, but McCullough invited the hunters to visit a nearby DNR office and take pictures with it.
DNR officials in the past have said the picture-taking incident is being reviewed internally.
Both state officials and wolf advocates have publicly questioned how two hunters and a taxidermist could all mistake an 84-pound wolf for another species that averages 25-40 pounds.
The case for, against charges
Reviled by some and celebrated by others, wolves have long been the target of political debate in Michigan, where some want to legalize hunting them while others say there are still too few to justify hunting.
Dozens of Republican lawmakers have urged state officials not to punish the hunter and instead called for legalized wolf hunting in Michigan.
Wolf advocates are calling for the opposite.
“Charges should be filed,” said Nancy Warren, executive director of the National Wolfwatcher Coalition.
“At a minimum,” Warren said, she hopes those involved are required to attend a wolf education class and pay restitution. “Whether or not there should be jail or additional fines, I need more information.”
Gilbert, the Calhoun County prosecutor, said while he’s aware of the heated political debate, “I won’t play politics.”
