On Friday, October 26th, the Minnesota Supreme Court denied a request by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Minnesota-based group, Howling for Wolves, to stop the state’s wolf hunting and trapping season while their lawsuit against the state is considered. The Court denied the motion without any additional comment.
CBD and Howling for Wolves filed the lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in mid-September looking to block Minnesota’s first wolf hunting and trapping season. Now, both the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court have refused requests by the anti-hunting groups to temporarily postpone this year’s wolf season.
“This latest action means that the season should continue as scheduled while the rest of the lawsuit is argued,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s in-house counsel. “This win for sportsmen and scientific wildlife management is just the first step in the case. The rest of the case will be decided in the coming months.”
Minnesota’s wolf season is slated to start on November 3rd. The Supreme Court’s decision also means that it is unlikely the case will impact this year’s wolf season.