Minnesota Independent: Minnesota’s gray wolf to be removed from endangered species list–again

By Andy Birkey

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Friday that the federal government was removing the gray wolf from the list of species protected under the Endangered Species Act. Minnesota’s gray wolf population is one the nation’s largest, second only to Alaska.

“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 on Friday. “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.”

Minnesota’s gray wolf population was downgraded by the Bush administration from endangered to threatened in 2007, but a court case over-ruled that decision in September 2008. Gray wolf populations were also de-listed in the northern Rockies in early 2008, but a judge over-ruled that decision as well.

Minnesota has far exceeded its goals in its wolf management plan. As of October 2008, the state had a population of at least 2,900 with a goal to maintain a stable population of 1,251 to 1,400 wolves.

Salazar maintained the endangered status of gray wolves in Wyoming because that state offers the wolves no protections from hunters and livestock owners who perceive the wolves to be a threat to their herds.  Click link below for full story.

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