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Defenders Magazine
Defenders in Action: Status of Rocky Mountain Wolves Still Uncertain
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service placed northern Rocky wolves back under federal protection as a threatened species in September, after a judge temporarily halted the agency's plan to turn over wolf management to the states. But only 10 days later, in the waning weeks of the Bush administration, the service announced it was trying again to delist the wolves.
"It is shocking—although not entirely surprising—that FWS is still trying to push a failed delisting rule out the door before the Bush administration turns out the lights," said Defenders' President Rodger Schlickeisen.
A July decision by a U.S. District Court landed wolves back under temporary protection pending the outcome of a court case brought by Earthjustice attorneys on behalf of Defenders and other conservation groups. That case challenges the service's decision last March to remove federal protections for wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
"The Fish and Wildlife Service has admitted that there were serious scientific and legal problems underlying their delisting rule," says Suzanne Stone, Defenders' northern Rockies wolf representative. "Rushing this same old plan through again will only lead to more legal battles. We need a sound, science-based plan that provides for a naturally sustainable wolf population and addresses the needs of livestock owners, hunters, wildlife conservationists and the public."
Defenders points out that the government's move to turn over management to the states in the region is premature because existing state plans do not ensure the long-term conservation of wolves. Wyoming's policy allows wolves to be shot on sight, year-round and for no particular reason in 88 percent of the state. State management plans in Idaho allow for more than half of the state's wolves to be killed. At least 100 wolves were killed in the three-state region last spring while they were delisted and under state management.
"We hope the new administration has the opportunity to address wolf delisting in the northern Rockies," adds Schlickeisen, "and will put politics aside when making scientific wolf-management decisions."
Editor's note: On January 14th, after the magazine went to press, the Bush administration announced that the northern Rockies gray wolf will be taken off the endangered species list.
For the latest news, visit Defenders' wolf blog at
http://myyellowstonewolves.typepad.com.
