Gray wolves are back on the endangered list

by Stephanie Sobotka | July 23, 2008 at 09:43 am | 1287 views | 24 comments | 7 recommendations

Gray wolves have been put back on the endangered species list.

For these reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (dkt #2) is GRANTED. Endangered Species Act protections are hereby reinstated for the northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf pending final resolution of this matter on the merits.
Dated this 18 day of July, 2008, 16:04 p.m.

Wolves were removed from the endangered species list this past March, but environmentalists fought to have the decision overturned..

The region has an estimated 2,000 gray wolves. They were removed from the endangered species list in March, following a decade-long restoration effort.

Environmentalists sued to overturn the decision, arguing wolf numbers would plummet if hunting were allowed. They sought the injunction in the hopes of stopping the hunts and allowing the wolf population to continue expanding.

"There were fall hunts scheduled that would call for perhaps as many as 500 wolves to be killed. We're delighted those wolves will be saved," said attorney Doug Honnold with Earthjustice, who had argued the case before Molloy on behalf of 12 environmental groups.

Since the wolves are now protected again, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana will have to hold off on their public wolf hunt this year.

A federal judge has restored protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act for gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains, derailing plans by three states to hold public wolf hunts this fall.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula, Montana, granted a preliminary injunction late Friday restoring federal protection for wolves in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.

Molloy will eventually decide whether the injunction should be permanent.

Early settlers had eradicated wolves from the area, but in the mid-1990s the federal government reintroduced 66 animals as part of a controversial program.

The argument concludes with the claim that a preliminary injunction is necessary because wolves are not likely to survive the increased incidents of human-caused
mortality that will occur under state management.

Those who supported the decision last March to remove them from the list could possibly appeal this new ruling.

Ed Bangs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who led the wolf restoration program, defended the decision to delist the northern Rockies wolves as "a very biologically sound package."

"The kind of hunting proposed by the states wouldn't threaten the wolf population," Bangs said.
"We felt the science was rock solid and that the delisting was warranted."

Bangs said government attorneys were reviewing Molloy's court order and would decide next week whether to file with the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Federal and state officials had argued killing some wolves would not endanger the overall population—as long as numbers did not dip below 300 individuals.

With increasing conflicts between wolves and livestock, officials said, public hunts were crucial to keeping the predators' population in check.

Previous NowPublic coverage can be seen here

recommend Add a comment

kirtley.larry

at 17:43 on July 23rd, 2008

These 2 wolfs were photgraphed in Central Ontario Canada

kirtley.larry has contributed a photo to this story.

Mike Miley

at 18:48 on July 23rd, 2008

I'm not so sure it is a Gray wolf but it was in a sanctuary in Tennessee that marked it as a grey.

Mike Miley has contributed a photo to this story.

Zooman_723

at 19:33 on July 23rd, 2008

I was lucky enough to see some of the wonderful work that Fossil Rim Wildlife Conservation Center is doing for these wonderful animals. They are involved in several conservation programs one of which is aimed at conserving the Mexican gray wolf.

Zooman_723 has contributed a photo to this story.

Toonie52

at 19:48 on July 23rd, 2008

This photo was taken at Wolf Haven International in Tenino WA. The wolves are well taken care of and were all relaxing after each dining on a whole chicken. The staff is dedicated to the survival of wolves both in captivity and in the wild. If you are ever in the area, I encourage all to take the tour and support the wonderful work that the volunteers do at this facility.

Toonie52 has contributed a photo to this story.

bonne1978

at 21:02 on July 23rd, 2008

My photos are taken in Kolmården Zoo in Sweden

bonne1978 has contributed a photo to this story.

Roguey000

at 01:00 on July 24th, 2008

My picture is some European Grey Wolf’s photographed from Whipsnade Zoo.

Roguey000 has contributed a photo to this story.

julianf1972

at 01:54 on July 24th, 2008

I think it's great news these beautiful animals have been reprieved from this season's hunting. Human intervention and culling is part and parcel of conservation but until the species is proven to be 100% flourishing I think it's only right to impose a ban on the hunting in order that the numbers grow to well in excess of the current 2000. My portrait of a Grey Wolf was taken in captivity but I would one day love the opportunity to capture a shot of a wild wolf.

julianf1972 has contributed a photo to this story.

ImogenX

at 03:02 on July 24th, 2008

This photo was taken in the Eastern part of Macedonia, near Kriva Palanka. These wolves have been on and off the list of endangered species in Macedonia a few times now and I am not sure of their status ...

ImogenX has contributed a photo to this story.

120SQN

at 04:56 on July 24th, 2008

Both of these shots were taken in the UK of captive Wolves.
There are several subspecies of the grey (or gray) wolf, including the timber wolf, the Rocky Mountain wolf, the Arctic wolf, the Mexican wolf, the Japanese and the Indian wolf.
At one time it had the largest geographical range of any mammal apart from man, sadly that is no longer the case.
Their population has declined significantly, primarily through direct human persecution and through loss of habitat and prey species.
It is a much maligned species and very misunderstood. Given sufficient natural prey species it is very capable of living in close proximity to man without endangering human life. There is no recorded instance of a human losing life to a wolf, despite all the fairy stories.
It is sad that human ignorance has reduced this most noble of animals to small isolated population pockets.
Let us hope that it will one day be free to roam without fear of future persecution.

120SQN has contributed a photo to this story.

hairstyleca

at 05:53 on July 24th, 2008

My photo was taken in the Calgary zoo. The sign had large letters stating that is is an endangered species. I took this photo thinking how sad it would be to never see one again. I believe there should be a law of no hunting if that particular animal has any risk of becoming extinct. Who in their right mind would organize a hunt right after the animal has been removed from the list? Can't they at least give them a couple of extra years to re establish. We don't get any further correcting the problems when people jump to quickly on the hunt.

uncle_ewen

at 08:32 on July 24th, 2008

European Grey Wolf at Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig Inverness-shire. Details here: www.highlandwildlifepark.org

uncle_ewen has contributed a photo to this story.

kneo73

at 08:36 on July 24th, 2008

I was actually asked why these beautiful creatures are not held as pets as they usually resemble somewhat dogs/huskies etc. After looking at this photograph the question was quickly answered and deemed as rather retorical...

kneo73 has contributed a photo to this story.

dalliedee

at 08:56 on July 24th, 2008

There is a moment that you share when photographing any animal, it is visceral. You and the animal share a space in time and you record that moment for all time. This wolf lives at the Wildlife Prairie State Park just outside Peoria Illinois. Wolfs are magnificent, their eyes reach out and the touch is palpable. I am privileged to share this shot as part of this story.

dalliedee has contributed a photo to this story.

mazzy43

at 12:31 on July 24th, 2008

This is one of a pair in a zoo park in Hertfordshire England. They looked in good condition and are well looked after.

mazzy43 has contributed a photo to this story.

Ylwstonegirl98

at 15:27 on July 24th, 2008

My photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park, this March.

Ylwstonegirl98 has contributed a photo to this story.

cdnsue

at 20:26 on July 24th, 2008

Taken in the Wildlife Refuge Centre in Kamloops, the pack was being fed. Amazing experience to see the pack behaviour while each took their turn feeding on the raw meat.

cdnsue has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 00:57 on July 25th, 2008

Steph02, I like this story. It's good stuff.

How come no one flagged this!!??

PlanMyGreen

at 18:45 on August 29th, 2008

I think most of the comments are photo comments, and unfortunately I have no excuse as I missed this when it was posted. Good story though.

sweidre

at 03:25 on July 25th, 2008

Why are the wolves approaching populated areas as cattle farms? Have they not any respect for humans any longer? There is a surplus of wild preys in the wild forests like elks, roe deers etc. I think that fake wolf hunting might make the wolves afraid of humans again and keep them away from human settlements as they did in the old days! Regards, sweidre

togosleddog

at 05:34 on July 25th, 2008

I'm relieved wolves are, at least temporarily, back on the endangered species list. I devote a lot of my time to canines of both domestic and wild origins studying both ethology and biology. I also share my home with several canines and participate in wolf-dog rescue. I do quite a bit of photography of wolves and wolf dog crosses as well most other canines, but predominately I prefer canines of northern decent. My photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/88878838@N00/

togosleddog has contributed a photo to this story.

theparrhesiastes

at 20:33 on July 26th, 2008

theparrhesiastes has contributed a photo to this story.

Mansairaku

at 00:19 on July 27th, 2008

Hi there,

I've been requested to share my wolves photos from my flickr account.

I think I should inform you that my wolves photos actually weren't mine. I'd collected them a long time ago when I was surfing the Internet.

Therefore, if your organization need my wolves photos, please feel free to use it.

Finally, I love all kinds of wolves, and I'm so glad that somebody is making effort to protect them ^^

Best regards,

mitchald48

at 08:25 on August 4th, 2008

At Yellowstone, the mother wolf stood just to the side as we, and others, stopped our cars, eased up and snapped pictures.

We live in southern Wyoming and have seen the wolves down there working the antelope herds. Up close, wolves do not resemble dogs. They are definitely wolves.

mitchald48 has contributed a photo to this story.

PlanMyGreen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:44 on August 29th, 2008

Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff. Do Americans really need another type of animal to hunt? I am not totally against hunting as certain species actually thrive better when controlled, i.e. the Iowa deer population, but why do we need to kill wolves that have so little numbers that a return to hunting can easily place them back on the endangered list.