Delegation Says Final Gray Wolf Decision Unwelcome

Press Release

Delegation Says Final Gray Wolf Decision Unwelcome

Today Interior Secretary Salazar agreed to move forward with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) decision to remove the Rocky Mountain gray wolf from the Endangered Species list in Montana and Idaho, but not Wyoming.

U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and Representative Cynthia Lummis, all R-Wyo., voiced their disappointment that wolves in Wyoming would continue to be listed as endangered species, despite their recovery numbers and a wolf management plan supported by the state legislature.

"There's been a lot of talk about change these days, but some things don't change. The federal government under the last Administration and now this one thinks that big brother knows best. Wyoming exceeded by leaps and bounds the number of wolves in the original recovery goals. It's time to let the states, all the states, have their shot at managing the wolves. Wyoming is the best there is at managing wildlife. There's no reason to exclude our state just because our attitude isn't liked," said Enzi.

"Delisting the wolf in Montana and Idaho but not Wyoming simply does not make sense. Wolves don't check for state boundaries," said Barrasso. "Today's announcement makes clear that ‘change' has not come to Washington. Wyoming has honored its commitments to recover the wolf. It's time Washington did the same."

"The decision to keep Wyoming from managing our wolves is a slap in the face," Lummis said. "It simply defies logic and sound science. For years, Wyoming has worked in good faith with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fine tune our wolf management plan. Once again, Washington has utterly failed to hold up their end of the bargain," said Lummis.

In January the FWS announced plans to remove the wolf from the Endangered Species Act in Montana and Idaho because the animal no longer required the protection of the Act. Wyoming wolves would continue to be protected because of "a lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms ensuring their protection under state law."

Wolves in Wyoming will remain protected as a nonessential, experimental population throughout the state. The Wyoming delegation will continue working with the state legislature, Governor Freudenthal and the FWS to remove the wolf from the Endangered Species List in Wyoming.

Source