USFWS DECIDES NOT TO PROTECT NORTHERN ROCKIES WOLVES
Wolves Will Remain Subjected to Hunting, Trapping, and Snaring Throughout Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
The US Fish and Wildlife Service published their findings of the status assessment for wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains today, Friday, February 2, 2024. The review was prompted by petitions sent by advocates that showed information that the states of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana are allowing the unregulated killing of wolves. As you know, here in Wyoming, wolves aren’t even managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in most of the state. They are allowed to be freely killed because their management falls under the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. Year-round killing by any means – including now on public lands with night vision and infrared – is permitted in over 85% of the state.
The decision from the US Fish and Wildlife Service lumps Northern Rocky Mountain (NRM) wolves into the same category as “grey wolves in the Western United States.” The mangement of this population segment will be included during a three year process to develop the first ever National Recovery Plan for wolves. A board of 24 individuals from across the country will be involved in the development of this plan and includes a collaborative process run by an outside party. Organizations are working to ensure the voice of preservation and protection of wolves are present on this committee.
What this means is that for the next three years AT LEAST wolves will still be killed by aircraft, hunters, traps, snares, and killed in their dens. Wolves deserve better and wolves absolutely belong to exist separate from being used as political pawns. This unregulated killing needs to stop. You can guarantee that we will continue to fight for wolves and WILL NOT CEASE until this species and its individuals are allowed to fulfill thier ecological niche and claim their rightful place in ecosystems across the Northern Rocky Mountains and in the Western U.S.
READ THE DOCUMENT OF THE DECISION HERE
READ THE FULL STATUS ASSESSMENT HERE
READ MORE ABOUT THE DECISION HERE
Photo Credits:
Wolf: Laney Kohout
Barking Coyote: Mark Surls
