Over the past few weeks, it has been difficult to step outside the Oakland Center without having an encounter with students asking for signatures to save the Michigan wolves.

We at The Oakland Post urge those who walk past these students to take the time to stop and listen to what they have to say. There is much more controversy to the issue than meets the eye.

The gray wolves of Michigan were protected from 1973-2012 under the Endangered Species Act because they were going extinct. Governor Rick Snyder overturned the legislation and declared them fair game for hunting in late 2012.

Keep in mind, it is estimated that there are currently less than 650 wolves in Michigan.

The reasons for hunting the wolves include: human safety, livestock depredation and pet depredation, according to michigan.gov/wolves.

A 45-day wolf hunt was scheduled for late November, 2013 with a quota of 43 wolves.

In response to this scheduled hunt, the Humane Society launched a petition calling for a referendum to undo the call to arms, to protect the wolves and to postpone wolf-hunting season. More than 250,000 people signed the petition.

This petition was noted by the Michigan Legislature, but became meaningless with the passing of PA-21, which gave the Natural Resources Commission the ability to select which animals should be on Michigan’s game species list.

Due to PA-21, the hunt went as planned. According to michigan.gov, 24 wolves were killed. Prior to the hunt, there were an estimated 658 wolves in Michigan.

These students outside the OC are asking for you to sign a second petition to overthrow PA-21 to protect the wolves from next year’s hunt.

Sign it− these hunts aren’t justified.

There has never been a recorded incident where a wolf has attacked a human in Michigan, according to keepwolvesprotected.com.

Michigan farmers, ranchers and other landowners were already permitted to kill wolves to protect livestock or pets, according to The Huffington Post.

There are also numerous nonlethal ways to prevent wolves from harassing pets and livestock according to the resources found at michigan.gov. Among these nonlethal methods are: fencing, flagging, guard animals, technical assistance and reimbursing the cost of damages.

Of course, there is never a full-proof way to prevent the wolves from chasing after cattle, lethal or non-lethal.

Regardless, the fact is that the reasons for hunting the wolves do not add up. There aren’t any recorded wolf attacks on humans in Michigan. There are non-lethal ways to deal with the wolves. And nobody eats wolf meat anyway.

Get out there and sign that petition. At least 161,305 signatures will have to be validated and they’re due March 13. For those reading hot off the press, that’s tomorrow folks.