CUMBERLAND, Wis. — Politicians, farmers and hunters dominated a Great Lakes summit on wolves, expressing hope that the animals will soon come off the federal endangered species list.

Participants at the meeting Thursday in the northwestern Wisconsin community of Cumberland talked about solutions to wolf problems, including attacks against domestic animals, in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.

The summit was organized by two Republican northern Wisconsin lawmakers Sen. Tom Tiffany and Rep. Adam Jarchow, who hope control of the wolf population returns to state governments. As long as wolves are considered endangered, killing them is illegal unless it’s for personal protection.

USA Today Network-Wisconsin reports the Humane Society of the United States called the event one-sided. Its supporters argued that wolves have a place in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Roughly 4,000 wolves roam the Great Lakes region.