Grey wolves that inhabit the northern Rocky Mountains are no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act. This group of grey wolves have been removed from the list that they belonged to for more than three decades. According to Deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett "the wolf population in the Northern Rockies has far exceeded its recovery goal and continues to expand its size and range”.
On the surface this may seem like great news to wolf lovers everywhere but some environmental groups disagree with the government’s decision. They believe that the species has not fully recovered and they vow to sue in order to protect the wolves that are now in danger of being hunted and other methods of being killed that will soon follow this decision.
The goal was to have a 30 breeding pairs and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least 3 consecutive years. The environmental groups believe that 300 wolves is not enough and that far more are needed before the species can be considered truly recovered.
Now state management plans will determine the fate of the grey wolf and the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have stated that they plan to allow hunting, trapping and other killing of wolves. Edward Bangs, western wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, believes that state management can be effective in protecting the species just as it has protected their food supply; deer, elk and moose.
As convinced as they sound for the viability of this species without federal protection, I am sure their decision was also influenced by politics and money. I only hope they are right and that this allows them to focus on other endangered species. They just better be able to react quickly if environmental groups prove that the decision was hasty and that the grey wolf needs to be protected once again.
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Submitted by brian on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 21:55.