The deer population and the wolf population are hot topics of discussion among certain groups in Minnesota, and one new group is taking the subject head-on with a series of meetings.
Worried about wolves becoming too bold around humans, Minnesota wildlife officials are stepping up warnings to people not to feed the animals increasingly wandering along northeastern Minnesota roadways.
Wildlife managers say Minnesota's wolf population has fallen by about 700 animals over the past five years to around 2,200. The Department of Natural Resources released the estimates Tuesday from a comprehensive survey conducted over the winter.
Minnesota is taking applications for its upcoming wolf hunting and trapping season. The state will award 6,000 licenses by lottery for a statewide target harvest of 400 wolves. The statewide bag limit is one wolf.
Now that Minnesota's wolf-hunting season is official, the pressure shifts to state wildlife officials to finalize how to handle issues such as licensing and registration.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is making another attempt to remove gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region from the endangered species list. The agency says Friday that wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have recovered and no longer need federal protection.