Department of Interior announces de-listing of Grey Wolves in three Great Lakes states
Jack Sautter
February 2, 2007
On January 29, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that it would de-list the grey wolves of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin from the endangered species list. Approximately 4,000 grey wolves live in the three states. Following the removal of federal protection, state and tribal governments in the three states will be responsible for caring for the health of the animals.
In the 1940s and 1950s, federally sanctioned hunting nearly drove the animal to extinction. However, in 1974 the North American Grey Wolf was listed as an endangered species. Since then conservation efforts have re-established wolf populations in Yellowstone National Park area, Northeast U.S., and the western Great Lakes region.
The Great Lakes states' response to the de-listing is in stark contrast to the political atmosphere surrounding the Yellowstone National Park states. Idaho's governor has said he would push for immediate hunting of the wolves, and state politicians in Wyoming are similarly politicking for the ability to kill wolves in order to protect livestock. However, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have each pledged to prohibit wolf hunting for at least five years following the de-listing.
Regardless of the states' actions to control the burgeoning wolf population, the removal of the wolves from the endangered species list is being viewed as a success by environmentalists. As Rodger Schlickeisen, president of the environmentalist group Defenders of Wildlife explains, "A classic Endangered Species Act success story… The remarkable recovery efforts to restore the wolf have paid off, and the states are ready to assume the responsibilities of managing their own wolf populations."
For more information:
US Fish & Wildlife Service – Information about the Western Grey Wolf: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/
Environmental News Network: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12127
National Public Radio: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6652227
International Wolf Center: http://www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/basic/history/gray_timeline.asp