Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the removal of gray wolves from the Endangered Species List. This applies to all wolves within the lower 48 except for the few Mexican Wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. The rule, proposed last year, outraged Americans, with approximately 1.8 million comments submitted by the public opposing delisting. Additionally, 86 members of Congress (in both the House and Senate), 100 scientists, 230 businesses, and 367 veterinary professionals submitted letters opposing the wolf delisting plan.
You can bet that groups will be taking the USFWS to court over this illegal decision. Driven by politics, not science or public opinion, this decision ignores every mandate the USFWS is supposed to uphold to protect wildlife.
Watch a video response to this decision from wildlife conservationist Jane Goodall here.