Wisconsin wolves again removed from Endangered Species protection
Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett announced today the removal of the western Great Lakes population and portions of the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves from protection under the Endangered Species Act. The de-listing includes the wolf population in Wisconsin.
The success of gray wolf recovery efforts in these areas has contributed to expanding populations of wolves that no longer require the protection of the Act, according to Scarlett. However, gray wolves found within the borders of Wyoming will continue to be protected by the Act due to a lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms ensuring their protection under state law.
“Wolves have recovered in the Great Lakes and the northern Rocky Mountains because of the hard work, cooperation and flexibility shown by States, tribes, conservation groups, federal agencies and citizens of both regions,” said Scarlett. “We can all be proud of our various roles in saving this icon of the American wilderness.”
Today’s decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is scheduled to take effect 30 days after the publication of two separate rules, one for each population, in the Federal Register. The two rules address concerns raised during two separate federal court actions last summer requiring the Service to reinstate Endangered Species Act protections for the two populations. The western Great Lakes population was originally removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants in March 2007, while the northern Rocky Mountain population was first delisted in February 2008.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank issued the following statement regarding today’s decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist gray wolves in Wisconsin and the western Great Lakes region from protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.
“We strongly support the efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the gray wolf in Wisconsin,” said DNR Secretary Matt Frank. “The Wisconsin DNR has done a good job managing wolves in this state and we believe the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s original decision to delist wolves was the right one. The Wisconsin DNR has worked closely with other states as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, providing our input throughout the process.”
“We were disappointed when the U.S. District Court vacated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf rule in September,” said Secretary Frank.
“The judge ruled on technical and narrow grounds and we hope today’s action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will satisfy his concerns so that we can move forward on our wolf management efforts.”