Whereas, Prior to European settlement of the Great Lakes, the grey wolf was a familiar inhabitant of the lands that were to become the State of Michigan; and,

Whereas, In the past, human actions such as predator control activities and unmanaged clearing of the forest land in Michigan resulted in the virtual elimination of gray wolves from their former range; and,

Whereas, The wolf’s peril was recognized and the species was placed on the endangered species lists of the United States Government and the State of Michigan, prompting the implementation of programs to aid the wolf’s recovery; and,

Whereas, These efforts have led to the recovery of wolves in our state to the point where their classification has been upgraded to “threatened” status and delisting efforts are underway; and,

Whereas, Scientific research has shown that wolves and other predators are not a threat to the health of the state’s wildlife but play a significant role in the functioning ecosystem; and,

Whereas, The wolf, now restored throughout the Upper Peninsula and an important part of our state’s wildlife heritage, needs the continued support and acceptance of Michigan’s residents; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of October 17, 2004, as Wolf Awareness Week in Michigan.