Groups resisting delisting

A coalition of environmental groups announced plans Wednesday to challenge the federal government's decision to remove the gray wolf from endangered-species protection.

The 11 groups notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of their intent to sue in federal court to overturn the delisting ruling that gives Montana, Wyoming and Idaho legal management authority over wolves starting March 28.

In a press release, the groups argue that the delisting is premature.

"In the past two decades, the wolves of the northern Rocky Mountains have made remarkable progress toward recovery," the groups state, according to the press release. "While this progress deserves celebration, it is not yet complete."

They contend that the wolves in the Greater Yellowstone area, Northwest Montana and Idaho are not adequately connected, and that the entire region's population of 1,500 wolves falls short of the 2,000 to 5,000 wolves that some scientists "have determined necessary" to secure the health of the species.

"Delisting would further endanger wolves because of increased wolf killing, reduced wolf numbers, and less genetic exchange between wolf populations," the groups said in the release.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the delisting decision last month, with officials expressing confidence that viable wolf populations in the three states can be sustained.

In Montana, the regulations and general framework for a quota-based wolf hunt are already in place, approved by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission last week.

But state wildlife officials have stressed that a managed hunt would not proceed until delisting is complete. And they've warned of the possibility that litigation could produces an injunction barring the state from proceeding with a wolf hunt.

The Earthjustice law firm submitted the notice letter, as required by the Endangered Species Act, on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, The Humane Society of the United States, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Friends of the Clearwater, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands Project, and Western Watersheds Project.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com