Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that gray wolf populations in the Great Lakes region have recovered and no longer require the protection of the Endangered Species Act. Salazar said. “Thanks to the work of our scientists, wildlife managers, and our state, tribal, and stakeholder partners, gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region are now fully recovered and healthy.” To read the U.S> Department of the Interior’s official press release click here.

On December 2, 2011 Arizona Fish and Game commission released official documents, which would mandate wolf proliferation across the Southern Rockies and into Texas. The documents have been confirmed by several sources, including a regional director for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service testifying at Friday’s Arizona Fish and Game Commission hearing.

Click here to download the “Executive Summary”.

Despite denials by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding these plans, these plans are moving forward. This official “draft” was released for official comment by members of the wolf recovery team in the last couple of weeks. In the wake of criticism by western states, USFWS’ national director accused states of “mischaracterizing” the Southern Rockies wolf plans. These leaked documents confirm that the criticism of these plans by western states were well founded. It is apparent that USFWS is moving to dramatic increases in wolves across the entire Southern Rockies and into Texas.

These plans are dangerous. These plans do not protect wildlife. These plans do not protect livestock. These plans would violate well-established limitations on federal authority. These plans are based on a dramatic overreaching.

You can help stop these plans from being forced on the good people of the Western United States by visiting www.BigGameForever.org and signing the petition.

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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.

NEWS: Idaho Sets Wolf Hunting Seasons