It’s Wyoming’s Move Now For Our Wolves

Jess Edberg, information services director -- International Wolf Center, 09/07/2010
The root of U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy’s recent August 5 ruling in federal court to relist gray wolves in the Northern Rockies states of Idaho, Montana and eastern portions of Oregon and Washington to the endangered species list is planted firmly in Wyoming.

When delisting in those Northern Rockies states occurred in 2007, the decision was challenged in court partly due to concern over Wyoming’s wolf management plan. Judge Molloy, also presiding over that case, ruled that the decision of the Department of the Interior to approve Wyoming’s plan after first rejecting it was arbitrary and capricious and ordered wolves relisted in 2008. With that order, Wyoming would not be eligible for delisting until its plan was revised to address Judge Molloy’s concern.

Wyoming’s plan commits to manage for at least 15 breeding pairs consisting of at least 150 wolves within its Wolf Trophy Game Management Area (WTGMA). This area, situated in the northwestern corner of the state, includes Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway and the National Elk Refuge and covers roughly 15,000 square miles or 15 percent of Wyoming’s total land area which is where almost all of Wyoming’s wolves live.

Outside of the WTGMA, where an estimated 30 wolves reside, Wyoming’s plan would classify wolves as predatory animals that may be lethally taken at any time without a permit. This designation is not specific to wolves; it has also been given to the coyote, red fox and raccoon and several other animals.

In 2009 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) decided to continue the delisting process even though Wyoming had not yet changed its plan. The Service adjusted its previously delisted area to eliminate Wyoming and relinquished wolf management and protection in the rest of the Northern Rockies recovery area to the states.

A group of 13 environmental groups and the state of Wyoming then filed separate lawsuits against the Service challenging its decision to delist wolves in the Northern Rockies in a piecemeal fashion. According to Malloy’s latest decision, all three states, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, must be included in any wolf delisting action.

This most recent ruling holds the Service to the original Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Plan’s directive of delisting the wolf in the Northern Rockies with Wyoming included.

The federal court ruling will not allow Wyoming wolves to be considered for delisting until the Service finds Wyoming’s wolf management plan acceptable. Both Montana and Idaho have announced plans to persuade Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to appeal the recent decision. Salazar and the Service were defendants in the initial case and therefore can appeal, although the states cannot.

Regardless of any future litigation in this case, Wyoming officials are awaiting resolution to their own lawsuit against the Service on this matter. In 2009, Wyoming filed suit against the Service for not delisting it along with Montana and Idaho. Wyoming remains firm on its decision to classify the estimated 30 wolves in eastern Wyoming as predators and has expressed no desire to change its plan until its own lawsuit is addressed.

According to various media outlets, senators from Montana have begun discussions to organize officials from Montana, Idaho and Wyoming to develop a plan for states to effectively manage gray wolves in light of this recent ruling. However, it is likely no action will be taken by Wyoming until after a decision is reached in its suit.

The International Wolf Center encourages critical thinking about controversial wolf issues. Moving forward requires effective and accurate communication by all invested. It is difficult and sometimes nearly impossible to have this communication without thoughtful reflection that puts aside personal or political agendas and embraces open, objective discussion - even when it is uncomfortable. But such communication is clearly in the best interest of wolf conservation.