Bill Would Remove Federal Protections For Wolves In 4 States

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Several members of Congress are preparing to introduce legislation soon to take wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Wyoming off the endangered list.

It's an effort to undo recent court decisions that have blocked the four states from allowing hunting and trapping of wolves for sport and predator control. U.S. Rep. Reed Ribble of Wisconsin is leading the effort. Co-sponsors include U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota.

Ribble spokeswoman Katherine Mize says they're circulating a draft as they seek sponsors from both parties.

The bill uses a strategy that succeeded in taking wolves in Idaho and Montana off the endangered list after court challenges by environmentalists blocked those efforts. Congress took matters into its own hands in 2011 and lifted the federal protections in those two states.