Agency Seeks to End Gray Wolf Protection

[dusty64]

Jul 16, 3:02 AM (ET)

By H. JOSEF HEBERT

(AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) - The gray wolf, which once nearly disappeared in the lower 48 states, is making such a comeback that the Interior Department wants to lift federal protection for the animal in the eastern two-thirds of the country.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton was to announce on Friday a proposed rule that would lift protection under the Endangered Species act for gray wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, where there are significant populations, as well as in at least 20 other states.

The rule change includes New England where conservationists fear that loss of federal protection would hurt attempts to develop future wolf populations through migrations from Canada.

Norton was making the announcement at a wildlife science center at Forest Lake, Minn., before traveling to a wildlife sanctuary in Wisconsin where the wolves have been on the rebound as well. Minnesota has the largest gray wolf - also known as timber wolf - population in the United States outside of Alaska where the animal has never been in need of protection.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20040716/D83RNRA01.html

[rpannier]

1. I Have No Idea What the Number of Gray Wolves are

and I know this administration doesn't care either way.
I'll be honest though. I think this administration lies so much, that if the took me to every Gray Wolf sanctuary and showed me 1,000,000 gray wolves I would still think they were up to something.

[DarkPhenyx]

2. Both Grey and Red wolves have been making comebacks.

The populations are nowhere near their pre-European invasion levels, but they are much better off than they used to be. Selected lifting of the protection isn't completely uncalled for, but it needs to be very selective and carefully monitored. The view of the wolf as "evil" still persists and a complete lifting of the protection w/o new restrictions on where and when they may be killed, is going to put them right back under complete protection within 3 years.

The protections also can't be lifted country wide as some of the regions where re-introductions are being attempted are not yet ready for that.

[rpannier]

3. Thanks for the Input

I'll take your word for it over the shrubbies word. I would still feel better if the protection was altered under a Kerry administration.

[DarkPhenyx]

4. So would I.

I'm a wolf person myself. I'm also an Environmentalist. Unlike many, however, I like to view the possible lifting of protection as a victory rather than a defeat. It means we won this round. If the numbers and statistics are accurate of course. IF we are lifting the protection just to appease Western ranchers then it is most definitely a loss.

[blindpig]

5. I just don't trust Norton &Co

Can you blame me? I'd like to see the opinions of experts not beholden to bu$h. Shrinking habitat is the main issue, we're not getting any more of that, much less in fact if bu$h succeeds in gutting the roadless rule.

[LWolf]

6. I read an article in an outdoor life mag last week;

it was the only reading material in the waiting room. There was an article on the "thriving" wolf populations in the lower 48. The title of the article was "When do we get to shoot them?" :eyes: