Gray Wolves Go Back To State Control.

The Federal Government officially removed Montana’s wolves from the Endangered Species List. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reissued its 2009 rule which returns wolf management back to Montana and Idaho. Public hunts for hundreds of wolves already are planned this fall in Idaho and Montana. Montana fish, wildlife and parks spokesman Ron Aashiem says this being a federal law is much different than a federal decision, which was  the delisting rule was.

Western lawmakers attached a rider to the federal budget bill mandating the move for 1,300 wolves in the Northern Rockies. The rider blocked legal challenges, and marked the first time congress has stripped a species of protections, and came amid political pressure from agriculture and sporting groups to curb wolf attacks on livestock and big game.  Senator Jon Tester is pleased with the  decision to  officially remove Montana’s wolves from the Endangered Species List. Senator Tester is  Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus  that worked with Republican Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho to get the wolf provision passed last month. Under the plan, Idaho’s wolves will also be de-listed. Tester says the move is the right thing to do for the Rocky Mountain West.

 Tester had worked on plans for delisting wolves following a controversial court decision last August that de-listed wolves and nullified Montana’s wolf management plan.