Gray Wolf May Get De-Listed

According to a press release by the U.S. Department of the Interior, dated January 29, 2007 the Gray Wolf may be de-listed in the Northern Rockies regions because it has been determined the goals have been met in preserving at least 30 breeding pairs and 300 wolves. This announcement does not effect other regions where the Gray Wolf is still determined to be in need of recovery. The region includes, all of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho and sections of Washington, Oregon and Utah. The conservation plan for Wyoming has not as of yet been approved.

Anyone interested in making comments on this proposed rule change for the Northern Rockies Gray Wolf may do so electronically by e-mail. The period of comment runs for another 30 days. All comments should be addressed to NRMGrayWolf@fws.gov. If the state of Wyoming plan is not approved the FWP may move to implement the rule for the other effective part of the region.

On the heals of this new move by FWP, the Inspector General of the Interior Department has issued a new report showing some improvement but, outlining various deficits in the overall leadership and enforcement of FWP. The report can be accessed at: http://www.doioig.gov/upload/FWS_OLEAssessmentFINAL021507.pdf

In this mixed bag of good and somewhat contradictory information concerning the enforcement of wild life protection a report has been issued. It was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the U.S. Attorneys of the Department of Justice. It states that referrals of complaints, enforcement and the percentage prosecuted by FWP has been on a steady decline since 2004. See: http://www.peer.org/docs/fws/07_20_2_wildlife_criminal_enforcement.pdf.

For anyone interested in the Gray Wolf and other useful information about the role of the United State Fish Wild Life and Parks in conservation efforts there is a very detailed web site at: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/ . For contrary points of view you may access Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility at : http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=825.