States put wolf hunts on hold
By BOB MOEN
Associated Press writer
CHEYENNE — Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have put on hold their plans to establish wolf hunting seasons this fall in the wake of a federal judge’s decision to restore endangered species protection for the animal.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission was scheduled to consider the state’s regulations governing a gray wolf hunting season on Friday.
“At this point in time we’ll probably put it aside for now,” commission President Jerry Galles said. “When things become more clear, and we have a better path to work from, then we’ll take a look at those rules and regulations at that time.”
U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, of Missoula, Mont., issued a preliminary injunction earlier this month restoring endangered species protection for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies. Environmentalists sought the injunction as part of a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s decision to remove the wolves from the endangered species list in March.
Montana had set hunting season dates and was close to approving its wolf hunting rules, including quotas, after completing a series of public hearings on July 18.
“Until we know that the wolf is removed, we won’t be pursuing a hunting season,” Tom Palmer, spokesman for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department, said Wednesday.
Idaho approved its rules back in May but had not yet issued any wolf hunting licenses, said Ed Mitchell, spokesman for the Idaho Fish and Game Department.
“So we are at a standstill, and on hold and not doing anything on wolf hunting until we resolve the court case,” Mitchell said.
While it would only take a few days for Idaho to revive a wolf hunting season, Mitchell said, “We’re not anticipating being able to do it this year.”
Environmentalists contend wolf numbers would plummet if hunting were allowed. The states have committed to keeping wolf numbers at levels that game managers said would not endanger the predator’s existence.
An estimated 2,000 wolves now roam the three states after a decade-long restoration effort, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.