10/28/08 Feds seek to remove wolves from listing

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has opened a new comment period today on delisting Rocky Mountain Gray Wolves in Idaho. Wolf Recovery Coordinator Ed Bangs says they've published a rule and are seeking comment on the same proposal announced last February. It had two alternatives; one to delist all wolves in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana or delist wolves everywhere but Wyoming. BANGS "Given the latest court ruling which focused on genetics and the Wyoming regulatory thing we're asking the public to take a look at that again and then we're going to make a decision hopefully this winter about what parts if not all of the Northern Rocky Mountains should be delisted Federal Judge Donald Molloy ruled that the Idaho and Montana state management plans were on par with the federal protection plan. BANGS "Now in Wyoming wolves would remain listed and protected by federal regulations but elsewhere they'd be managed entirely by the states and so the wolf population would remain viable and healthy. We think that is an option that is legal." The new public comment period will end on November 28th and that's when Bangs says the decision will be made on delisting. He says Fish and Wildlife will come back with recommendations that will get court approval. If you want to look at the new proposal you'll find it on the Internet at www.westerngraywolf.fws.gov. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott