Michigan Democrat says Tom Tiffany is 'obsessed' with hunting wolves, Wisconsin Farm Bureau highlights the issue

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D - Michigan) appeared on CNN to discuss the results of the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary. She currently serves with Republican gubernatorial candidate and sitting Congressman Tom Tiffany (R - Wisconsin).

“His big priority is wolves. He wants to hunt wolves. I’m not kidding. He’s talked to me about it many times on the House floor,” Rep. Stevens said.

For farmers in Wisconsin, wolves have become a huge issue, especially in the northern part of the state, which is why the Wisconsin Farm Bureau says it has been their number one legislative issue.

"You have to remember that when they are listed, they are a protected species, so when a farmer has an event that is happening on his farm, he can’t go out there and intervene," Tyler Wenzlaff, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Director of National Affairs, said.  "So, he can’t do anything to stop wolves attacking his livestock unless there a threat to himself personally or herself."

According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, when a depredation event happens, the farmer then has to contact the USDA for them to confirm it is a wolf attack. The farmer must then apply for grants to try and be reimbursed for what has happened to their flock. However, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau says those grants don’t always cover the entire cost of what farmers have lost.

The Farm Bureau also says the Department of Natural Resources is delaying payments due to a lack of funding.

“The DNR under a democratic governor has issued an emergency that because of depredation events that have been happening in Wisconsin, they are going to run out of money to pay for this by the end of the fiscal year,” Wenzlaff said. “It’s the stress of the event it’s the emotional toll it’s the frustration of helplessness that happens because you can only watch and can’t intervene.”

Gov. Tony Evers weighed in on the topic, saying while he is in charge, wolves won’t be hunted.

“Obviously there are some farmers that we need to ensure that we continue to help them out if there have been some issues, but overall, I think it’s working well,” Evers said.

Tom Tiffany wasn’t available for an interview, but he did send the following statement in response.

“Too many Democrats are disconnected from the realities of rural Wisconsin, yet they still want Washington bureaucrats making decisions for the people who live here. The gray wolf has recovered, and rural families are dealing with increased attacks on livestock and pets. My constituents live with these consequences every day, and I’ll continue working across the aisle to stand up for them. Wolf management should be returned to the states and the people closest to the problem, even Tammy Baldwin agrees.”

As for farmers, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau says if there isn’t some sort of change, there are going to be total losses for Wisconsin farmers. They say this isn’t a partisan issue, and that counties in California have even made emergency declarations because depredation events have become so severe.

“We have some noninvasive tools that we can work with it just pushes that problem down the road until we have a comprehensive wolf management strategy moving forward it’s just going to be more chaos for the Northwoods and farmers in that area,” Wenzlaff said.