MT legislature passes resolution supporting wolf delisting
A joint resolution to support vigorously defending delisting gray wolves is now law in Montana. The legislature passed the resolution, and it was signed into law today.
The resolution supports delisting, and urges Fish, Wildlife and Parks to defend the decision to delist the gray wolf against any legal challenge.
The senate resolution says the gray wolf population reached the requirement in 2002, and has continued to grow since then, and is fully recovered.
The legislature also prefers state management of the gray wolf to federal management.
“I wanted an alternative to the Balyeat bill which was very aggressive and would have set back the delisting process, I didn’t want us to take our eye off the ball on delisting,” said Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Flathead Co. “We need to get the wolf delisted for the sportsman, and for the livestock industry, we need to take that back to Montana control so the wolf is controlled at the Montana level.”
On March 6th, President Obama affirmed the decision of the US Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the gray wolf.