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Farm Events: |
Farm News: Roaming Cougar Prompts New BillcommentsPosted: 11.04.2011
State Representative Amy Sue Vruwink (D-Milladore) issued the following statement after the Assembly Committee on Natural Resource voted and passed, Assembly Bill 82 which relates to wildlife damage abatement assistance and claim payments for damage caused by a cougar.
Representative Vruwink authored Assembly Bill 82 adding wildlife damage caused a by cougar to the type of damage for which a person is eligible to receive wildlife damage payments. Currently, wildlife damage for which a person is eligible to receive these payments includes only damage caused by deer, bear, geese, sand hill cranes, and wolves.
“I drafted this bill to be both preventative and proactive for our agricultural community. Wisconsin has a $59 billion dollar Agriculture industry, which includes horses, lamas, goats, cattle, calves, and sheep. Cougars have the capability to attack livestock and other large animals,” stated Vruwink.
Vruwink introduced this bill at the start of the legislative session. It was originally drafted in 2010 after reports of a cougar sighting in Juneau County.
“I believe we in the legislature need to do whatever we can to provide adequate avenues of compensation to our farmers if a confirmed attack by a cougar does take place. Recently, the DNR verified a legitimate cougar sighting from a trail camera in Juneau County. Local farmers are concerned attacks could jeopardize their agricultural production and need something in place if an attack does occur,” Vruwink said.
Representative Vruwink is hopeful that Assembly Bill 82 will be brought before the entire State Assembly for a floor vote. The bill would then go though a similar process in the Senate before going to the Governor to be signed into law. She is confident that the Senate and Governor will agree this bill is proactive in protecting the livelihood of our farmers.
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