Wolf management to MT & ID

[Mike Schlegel]

Mike--

Today, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, along with nine other conservation groups, announced a proposed settlement with the Department of the Interior regarding wolf recovery and management in the Northern Rockies.

If approved by the court, the agreement would remove Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in Idaho and Montana and return management authority to those states, while retaining full protection in Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. It will also require Department of the Interior to withdraw a controversial policy memo used to justify not protecting imperiled species throughout their entire range.

The following is a joint statement from the 10 conservation groups:
   

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Yellowstone wolf pups photo
Today's settlement marks
the beginning of a new era
of wolf conservation
in the Northern Rockies

 Photo courtesy of Denver Bryan.
“We hope today’s agreement will mark the beginning of a new era of wolf conservation in the Northern Rockies, as well as confirm the success of the Endangered Species Act and this country’s boldest wildlife reintroduction effort in history. The proposed settlement maintains protections in Wyoming, Oregon and Washington where wolves are still threatened, while allowing for responsible state management in Idaho and Montana.

“In return for allowing the states of Montana and Idaho to manage wolves according to approved conservation plans, the Department of the Interior agrees to conduct rigorous scientific monitoring of wolf populations across the region and an independent scientific review by an expert advisory board after three years. This is a critical safety net to ensure a sustainable wolf population in the region over the long run. The settlement offers a workable solution to the increasingly polarized debate over wolves.

“Wolves are a keystone species that allow many other plants and animals—from beaver and trout, to willows and migratory birds—to thrive in a way that will fascinate and benefit Americans for generations to come. Wolves have a place on the landscape, and continued conflict doesn't benefit anyone.”

The ten conservation groups that have agreed to the settlement are Cascadia Wildlands, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oregon Wild, Sierra Club and Wildlands Network.

We appreciate your support as we continue to ensure the long-term protection of wolves in Greater Yellowstone. We will keep you posted throughout the days ahead.

Sincerely,

mike clark photo

Mike Clark
Executive Director

[wingnut]

Glad to see Idaho and Montana get some freedom to manage but sad that the other states that are still unable to protect the resorce.

Wolves have defestated the elk and moose herds in Idaho.

Mike

[Stickbow]

So Id and Mt can manage wolves by an "Approved conservation plan"

I wonder who approves it?

I hate to be so skeptical, but this mess has worn me thin.

[artelkhunter]

Well I'm sure glad we have to get the approval of all the tree huggers out there. I can't believe Wyoming is not on the list.  The elk herd in the throughfare country around Yellowstone has been reduced from right around 20000 animals in 1995 to under 6000 as of the last count study in 2008. they have put all the outfitters in the area out of business. But I'm sure Bruce Babbit and all the greenies he appointed to over see that program never hunted elk in the area and never will.  I for one am sick of the politics in game management. Its just another case of common sense thrown out the window.