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Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com
Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com

Wolf delisting may be near

Wolf delisting may be near

by Todd Adams

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) announced January 13 that the
process of delisting the western population of gray wolves can begin as
soon as Wyoming approves key changes to state law and its wolf management
plan.

At the same time, Idaho and Montana’s wolf management plans have been
approved by the FWS as “adequate to maintain the population of gray wolves
above established recovery goals.”

Steve Williams, FWS director, said wolf populations in all three states
have met recovery goals for delisting under the Endangered Species Act.

Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne said January 13 he is pleased that FWS
recognizes Idaho’s plan as biologically sound. Kempthorne joined the Bush
Administration in defending the federal government’s decision last year to
“downlist” gray wolf populations from endangered to threatened, after
environmental groups sued FWS to stop that action.

Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig said January 13 they are pleased
that Idaho’s wolf management plan has been approved. Kempthorne, Crapo and
Craig all said it’s time for delisting to occur, and for the federal
bureaucracy to step aside and let Idaho manage its wolves.

Wyoming requirements

A January 13 FWS news release stated that Wyoming must do three things
before the agency is assured that state has management controls in place
to maintain wolf populations above recovery goals:

1. Wyoming must change its current designation for wolves as predatory
animals. Designating wolves as “trophy game” would allow Wyoming to
sustain wolf populations, as well as regulate and monitor the harvest of
wolves by hunters.

2. Wyoming state law must clearly commit to managing for a population of
at least 15 wolf packs.

3. Wyoming’s definition of a wolf pack must be consistent with Idaho’s and
Montana’s and be biologically based. The three states are now
collaborating on a definition.

Because the western population of gray wolves is considered a single,
distinct population, management plans must be in place in all three states
before the federal government approves delisting.

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