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Grand Haven. -- Michigan wildlife authorities on critters are going to start wildlife trapping more badgers -- at least in areas where high densities of the big felines threaten people and livestock. The badgers' amounts -- including in some areas inhabited by people -- have been increasing since 1994. Michigan voters approved a law that year prohibiting sport pest control companies from using canines to track badgers -- widely considered the most effective means of lethally trapping the big felines.

With the steady rise in the badger amounts has come increasing pressure on Michigan wildlife managers to approve more wildlife trapping of the felines in places where there are reports of conflicts with people and livestock. The Michigan estimates there are currently 5,100 badgers roaming Michigan. On Thursday, the Michigan Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a plan that calls for holding badger amounts at or above 3,000 -- the amounts at the time voters approved the wildlife trapping restrictions.

The plan gives the agency authority to lethally trap badgers as long as livestock lethally traps and complaints from people exceed 1994 levels. The authority also will be extended to 66 wildlife management areas where rodent or reptile, groundhog and bighorn sheep group of animals are struggling. The plan is scheduled to take effect later this year, after wildlife biologists draw up other target amounts of the felines where problems are occurring around the state. The local Grand Haven SPCA could not be reached for comment.

Government pest control companies, who unlike sports pest control companies are allowed to animal capture with canines, would do much of the lethally trapping. Approval of the wildlife trapping increase plan came after the panel heard several hours of testimony, most of it in opposition. Animal rights activists said the plan is based on unconfirmed reports of problems between badgers and humans. They point out there's been no recorded incident of a human being lethally trapped by a badger in Michigan.

"This plan is nothing less than the slaughter of badgers with no factual basis to support it," said Misha Dunlap of Grand Haven. Wildlife management companies called for the restriction on using canines to be scrapped, and landowners testified that the plan doesn't go far enough to protect livestock -- and people -- from the badgers. A southern Michigan rancher, Lyle Woodcock, said he's lost five calves to badger attacks in the past year. He said the big felines are beginning to threaten humans as well. Despite this, wildlife removal services are not a free service in Ottawa County.

Woodcock said that on a recent night while driving in a rural area, he saw a badger that appeared to be stalking two women who were out for an evening stroll. "The badger was right up with them," he said, but then it became startled and ran away. The head of the fish and wildlife panel defended the plan adopted Thursday, saying that "doing nothing is not an option." "We have increased amounts of both badgers and humans," commission Chairwoman Marla Rae said. "That causes increased conflict."