Wolves delisted?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service again moved to delist wolves from Endangered Species Act protection, a decision that is almost certain to be challenged in court. Delisting is the right call, while the likely legal challenges and delays to hunting seasons for wolves in Montana and Idaho will continue to threaten the the long-term viability of wolf recovery. The deal was that once these critters were recovered, management would move to the states and limited hunting would be allowed.

By the way, Wyoming was excluded from delisting due to the fact that that state has yet to present an adult-drafted management plan. Wyoming's shoot-on-sight policy everywhere but Yellowstone National Park is childish nonsense.

Wolves are now recovered in Montana and Idaho. Period. Their fecundity has exceed all expectations. But some of the environmental groups involved in the lawsuits seem less interested in wolf recovery, and more interested in the cottage industry of conflict that the continued battle over delisting provides. In the mean time, they threaten to shatter the fragile coalition that paved the way for successful reintroduction and recovery.

The recovery goal for the program was at least 300 animals in Montana, Wyoming and idaho, with 30 breeding pairs. That goal was reached in 2002. There are now more than 1,500 wolves in the Northern Rockies by official estimates, a number that probably understates the population.

The recovery of this species — once eliminated from the lower 48 in one of the ugliest campaigns of extermination in American history — is nothing short of miraculous.

“The bottom line is wolves are fully recovered, and they should be delisted,” federal gray wolf recovery coordinator Ed Bangs was reported saying by the Missoulian during the teleconference announcing the decision. “It's the right time and the right thing to do.”

Bangs is right to a point. Wolves are recovered, biologically. But social and political recovery is still on hold. Full recovery waits for Wyoming to put some adults in charge of drafting its management plan, and for environmental groups to stop playing politics with the species.