Reps. Lahti, Agema, Lindberg, Nerat, Spade, McDowell, Booher, Walsh, Green, Ball, Caul, Constan, Crawford, Daley, Dean, Denby, Durhal, Gonzales, Haveman, Robert Jones, Kurtz, Lemmons, Liss, Meltzer, Moss, Neumann, Opsommer, Pavlov, Polidori and Sheltrown offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 206.

            A resolution to urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the Michigan gray wolf from the federal endangered species list.

            Whereas, Gray wolves in Michigan have been protected from harm under the federal Endangered Species Act since 1974. At that time, gray wolves were in danger of going extinct and needed the special protection provided by the act to aid their recovery; and

            Whereas, Federal protection of the gray wolf is no longer necessary. Gray wolves have made a remarkable recovery from near extinction. Michigan's current gray wolf population of nearly 600 wolves exceeds by nearly three times the number of wolves biologists consider necessary to maintain a healthy population. The population has grown steadily for over 12 years. Michigan's wolf population has met all federal recovery goals for de-listing both in terms of number of wolves and the stability of those numbers; and

            Whereas, Michigan is well prepared to manage gray wolves going forward in the best interest of its residents. Michigan has developed a sound management plan that will continue to maintain a healthy gray wolf population while allowing for more flexibility when conflicts between people and wolves arise; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the gray wolf from the federal endangered species list in Michigan; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.