Aug. 3, 2011
Today is a great day for wildlife! The federal government and Wyoming’s Governor announced that agreements have been reached to delist wolves in Wyoming. A subsequent court ruling upholding the Congressional action to delist wolves in Montana and Idaho quickly followed. Big Game Forever grateful to its members, SFW members and other sportsmen groups for the loyal support and many efforts in the fight for the future of wildlife in America. Expanded wolf delisting is coming closer to reality. If US Fish and Wildlife Service fulfills its commitments, Wyoming, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin should be delisted in the next few months. The experts continue to show that regulated harvest of wolves presents no threat to the ongoing viability of recovered wolf populations. It is time to allow states to do their job. The fight is not over, but the overwhelming evidence in support of delisting can no longer be ignored. Take a few minutes and look at the news on wolf delisting in this newsletter. We also encourage you to join BGF on facebook for more frequent updates on wolves, predation, state wildlife management and other important issues in protecting our hunting and outdoor heritage.
–Ryan Benson, Big Game Forever
NEWS: Judge Molloy Upholds Constitutionality of Wolf Delisting
(MISSOULA) – Wolves will stay off the Endangered Species List, at least for now, after U.S. District Judge upholds the constitutionality of Congressional action taking the wolves off the protected list. Some environmental groups wanted Molloy to overturn the May decision, saying lawmakers had violated the Separation of Powers Doctrine. But in an 18-page ruling issued this afternoon, Molloy rejected the plaintiff’s claims for summary judgment and backed the government’s position. That leaves the question of long-term ESA protection for Idaho and Montana wolves in the hands of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
