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FWS proposes delisting gray wolves without Wyoming |
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The Bush administration proposed delisting the Northern Rockies wolves today from the endangered species list and finalized the delisting of wolves in the Great Lakes.
The Northern Rockies proposal includes Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, but Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall said the plan is contingent on Wyoming producing a satisfactory wolf management plan. Otherwise, Hall said, the administration would go proceed with the delisting of wolves in Montana and Idaho, but keep the Wyoming wolves as "endangered" and under federal control.
"I want to be clear about one thing ... we expect Wyoming to enact the same types of recovery plans that Montana and Idaho have in place," Hall said.
Hall said Wyoming has presented some "valuable information" but still has not moved far enough in its proposal for FWS to approve the recovery plans.
Wyoming's management plan authorizes killing wolves outside the area around Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and counts wolf packs within the national parks toward their required total.
Ed Bangs, the FWS wolf recovery coordinator for the Northern Rockies, said Wyoming needs to ensure it will protect a minimum of 10 to 15 breeding pairs, at least seven of those outside of the national parks.
Wyoming sued FWS last year, calling for judicial review of its wolf management plan and asking the agency to change its wolf management regulations to help the state "mitigate" the effect of wolves on livestock and wildlife.
Idaho and Montana have asked FWS to consider delisting the wolf populations separately from Wyoming.
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota will take over the management of wolves in their states 30 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register, which is expected later this week.
If the FWS proposal for the Northern Rockies goes forward, officials in Montana and Idaho could take over management of the wolves in their states -- which could include trophy hunting of the animals -- by the end of the year.
There are approximately 4,000 wolves in the Great Lakes population and over 1,200 in the Northern Rockies, according to FWS.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 18 October 2007 )
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