Standing Tough, Wyoming Had Wolves RightIt has been said by many that Wyoming has held up wolf management because they have only classified wolves as protected in the most remote and suitable 12% of the state. In 88% of Wyoming, wolves are classified as predators and may be shot on site if their wolf plan stands.
People in Wyoming maintain they don't want large numbers of wolves in ranching and inhabited areas. Last year a Judge upheld Wyoming's wolf plan. Now facing the possibility that congress may remove wolves completely from the Endangered Species Act, the USFWS has dropped their appeal and is willing to deal with Wyoming. In the end, Wyoming will likely benefit for standing tough on wolves.
Currently Wyoming has at least 343 wolves, more than 3 times the original target number agreed upon of 100 per state.
What Do You Think Will Happen
Dale
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/909f188a2940484a884fee210788fe87/MT--Endangered-Wolves-Wyoming/Federal wildlife officials drop appeal of wolf order, say they will negotiate with WyomingTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Last Updated: March 15, 2011 - 4:04 pm
BILLINGS, Mont. — The head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Tuesday that federal officials are resuming negotiations with Wyoming aimed at turning over control of endangered gray wolves to the state.
Federal officials have said for years that wolves were biologically recovered across Wyoming, but the species has remained on the endangered list there because of a law that allows wolves to be shot on sight across most of the state.
U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson in Cheyenne last year ordered the government to reconsider its rejections of Wyoming's wolf management plan. The Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday dropped its appeal of the judge's November order.
"We strongly believe that the recovered Northern Rocky Mountain (population of) gray wolves is most appropriately managed by states and tribes," said Rowan Gould, acting director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. "Rather than lose more time in court with an appeal that won't help resolve the problem, the service looks forward to working on a plan that can meet the state's needs."
Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said Tuesday he was pleased with the Fish and Wildlife Service's decision.
"I thought the judge's ruling was a strong one and I think this action by the agency may be a sign that the service is willing to look at Wyoming's plan in a real way and accept what Wyoming people want," Mead said.
"We are trying to work in a spirit of cooperation and we are cautiously optimistic that we may get somewhere," Mead said. "But, as I always say, this is a process and we've had our hopes dashed before. So we are moving cautiously, but in an optimistic fashion to see whether we can get something done."
Wyoming U.S. Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both Republicans, issued statements calling the decision a step in the right direction.
"I was encouraged by Acting Director Gould's comments on the appropriateness of state and tribal management of wolves," Enzi said. "That's a good place for the negotiations to start back up again. It's also a good place for the negotiations to end. I hope both sides can swiftly reach agreement."
Barrasso called on the government to immediately accept Wyoming's plan.
"The administration is right to finally recognize Judge Johnson's ruling that there is 'no meaningful scientific explanation' why Wyoming's plan will not protect the state's wolf population," Barrasso said.
In his November ruling, Johnson had said the Fish and Wildlife Service was wrong to insist Wyoming change its management plan to give wolves more protection before it would end federal oversight of the species.
The government's decision to drop its appeal does not affect a separate case before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals involving wolves in Montana and Idaho.
The predators were taken off the endangered list in the two states in 2009, only to have their protected status restored last year by a federal judge in Montana.
Several bills now before Congress seek to override that ruling and strip wolves of their protections in Montana and Idaho. Other measures would lift protections for wolves nationwide.
The federal government said it wanted a population of at least 300 animals when it started its wolf reintroduction program in the Northern Rockies in the 1990s. Biologists last week announced that there are now more than 1,600 wolves in parts of five states, including at least 343 in Wyoming.
