March 6, 2009 3:44 PM

Salazar Approves Removing Gray Wolves From Endangered Species List

By
Brent Lang
Topics
Domestic Issues
(SCIENCE)
In a move that is certain to rile environmental activists, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today upheld a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove gray wolves from the list of threatened and endangered species. The Endangered Species Act currently protects wolves living in the western Great Lakes and the northern Rocky Mountain states of Idaho and Montana as well as parts of Washington, Oregon and Utah.

"The recovery of the gray wolf throughout significant portions of its historic range is one of the great success stories of the Endangered Species Act," Salazar said in a statement. "When it was listed as endangered in 1974, the wolf had almost disappeared from the continental United States. Today, we have more than 5,500 wolves, including more than 1,600 in the Rockies."

Much of that success is attributable to the reintroduction of wolf populations into Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s. Wolves were transplanted to the Rocky Mountain region from Canada as a check on burgeoning populations of elk and bison. As a result, wolf populations in the park have ballooned from 30-40 wolves to the 1,600 that Salazar cited in his announcement.

When plans to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list were initially broached in February 2008, environmental and animal-rights groups filed suit to keep the wolves on the endangered list. A federal court judge in Montana sided last year with the groups and determined that the animal's survival was at risk. In particular, the judge cited Wyoming as a state that did not have adequate provisions in place to ensure the animal's long-term survival after it is de-listed. In deference to this, the department will not remove Wyoming gray wolves from the endangered species list.

Environmental groups expressed disappointment and some seemed poised to mount additional legal challenges to the department's decision today.

"We are disappointed the new administration has missed this opportunity to change course, and rethink the failed wolf persecution policies of the last eight years," said Jonathan Lovvorn, vice president & chief counsel for animal protection litigation with The Humane Society of the United States. "We urge the Department of the Interior to reconsider this ongoing effort to strip wolves of all federal protection, which has been repeatedly struck down by the courts, and is no more likely to succeed here than the previous failed attempts."

The Fish and Wildlife Service announced a revised plan to remove the wolves from the list in January, but Salazar put it on hold as part of an overall regulatory review of Bush-era policies by the Obama administration.

Add a Comment
by Ecuriesisu March 12, 2009 1:39 PM EDT
This decision seems to follow the law. Management of the wolves will be returned to the states. This decision should be bright spot, not one to be rejected out of hand. Being a conservationist and a hunter, the emotional comments made here condemning this do nothing to bring me over to your side. It is no longer a primordial world, and like it or not, scientific management by humans and some managed killing by hunters are necessary tools we have to regulate animal populations. I am not warming up to go kill wolves! But IF there is a place there are lots of wolves eating not so many baby elk, I hope there are some hunters to even the score. (All within the game laws prescribed by people in wildlife departments that I believe really do care about the health of ALL species in a given domain.)
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by canuckgrl March 12, 2009 11:30 AM EDT
I read somewhere that Ken Salazar has a brother who is a big farmer in one of those states...so with the delisting of wolves, they will have more grazing land and less threat of predators on their farms...looks like Bush isn't the only one with a brother in high places. I had such great hopes for Obama to reverse all the bad that was done by the Bush administration but their treatment of the endangered species act is one where they fail...big time. What a disaster. Natural selection had created these beautiful animals to be top predators and then humans come alone and pretty much destroy everything natural and beautiful...and irreplaceable. Please visit websites such as Earthjustice, Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity...they have petitions to sign all the time for the love of nature and endangered wildlife. And if you can give even $10 or $1...every dollar counts. They are constantly suing the government to reverse these erroneous decisions.
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by nomad247 March 11, 2009 8:57 PM EDT
This is probably backed by hunters and the the "energy" people. I would like to see in these areas where wolves are to be exterminated, that there be a law put into effect, that there can be no more hunting of any other animals, namely big game. That means no bears, no deer, not elk and moose. nothing at all. I would like to that in Alaska the ariel hunting be stopped and all those whjo have done this be jailed. I wish I lived in Alaska now days, because I would defintely take up hunting and shooting. I dont mind signing my name here. Janelle WOLVES. I guess we have another politicain in the pocket of specal interest groups. To bad there isn't a vote on these decisions, votes on who gets these positions, voting as a naton on the protected speicies lists. We should be able to vote on everything.
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by fishmarc March 11, 2009 4:19 AM EDT
I (too) am absolutely disgusted with Ken Salazar and now have grave doubts about Obama. This sets a depraved precedent for this administration. I do not think that Obama is aware of wildlife or animal issues or he would not have picked this lifelong lapdog of the ranching and hunting lobbies. Either that, or Obama doesn't have the intellect, courage and vision we all hoped for. So much for the environment, the middle class and our childrens future. It seems like it is all down the drain now. HOW COULD OBAMA BE SO STUPID? HOW COULD ANYONE BELIEF ANYTHING THAT THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE SAYS? THEY MAKE THEIR LIVINGS FROM HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES. ISN'T THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
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by envisionhope March 9, 2009 11:47 AM EDT
I am beyond disappointed with the decision made by Interiror Se retary Ken Salazar. This does not give much hope that the Obama administration will deal with environmental issues any better than the previous administration. Very very sad.
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by R_NIKORA March 7, 2009 8:34 PM EST
Because wolf populations in Alaska have never declined to the extent they have in other states, they were never added to the endangered species list. Alaska (and Governer Palin) classifies wolves as both big game animals and furbearers, which means they can be hunted and trapped. Each year, more than 1,000 wolves are trapped or hunted. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, "Most of these harvest totals do not include unreported harvests which may equal or exceed the reported harvest...."

Aerial hunting involves chasing the wolves until they collapse from exhaustion, getting out of the plane or helicopter and shooting them at point blank range.

Congratulations Ken Salazar, you can now be seen in the same dim light as Governor Palin !
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by hymark860 March 7, 2009 2:01 AM EST
As a resident of Idaho, Hunters of the west thank you.
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by paula6067 March 7, 2009 1:32 AM EST
I'M SO DISGUSTED WITH KEN SALAZAR. HOW COULD YOU TAKE THE GRAY WOLF OFF THE ENDANGERED LIST. THAT'S A DEATH SENTENCE FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS. I'M ALSO DISGUSTED WITH PALIN WHO HAS THE WOLF BEING KILLED FROM AERIAL HUNTING TO HAVING THE LEGS FOR BOUNTY. WHEN IS THE MURDER OF WOLVES GOING TO STOP!
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by dorybrit March 6, 2009 8:08 PM EST
I have been happy with the people who Pres. Obama chose as his cabinet, although there have been a few glitches, I felt that had it not been for their tax issues, they were good people. UNTIL NOW. I would not be surprised if it came out in the future that you, Ken were paid off by the likes of Palin and her henchmen. SHAME ON YOU. YOU DISGUST ME.
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