Agency attempts to remove Great Lakes gray wolf from endangered species list

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The federal government is planning another attempt to remove gray wolves in the Great Lakes region from the endangered-species list.

An assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Thomas Strickland, says the department will release a proposal by April and hopes to make a final decision by the end of 2011.

Biologists say the wolf has made a strong comeback from near-extinction in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The government has tried three times in the last seven years to remove federal protections and return management of the region's wolves to the states -- most recently in 2009. But federal courts have overruled the decisions in response to lawsuits by environmentalists and animal-rights groups.

Officials say they believe the new plan will withstand court challenges.

RELATED WOLF NEWS:
• Montana governor says negotiations over gray wolf's endangered status have hit impasse
• Wolf-hunting proponents consider a new tactic: Killing gray wolves in the name of research

-- Associated Press

Photo: William Campbell / Associated Press

Comments

[Amanda]

they should not because there probably not a lot of them left

[Minkie Amoroso]

Please save the Grey Wolves!! They are a very Big part of our Country and Histroy They are endangered and how could you just SHOOT TO KILL, THAT IS MURDER!!!!!

[Simone Vargas]

I don't understand why we humans must always decide on slaughtering or culling animals. I think these people are sick individuals who need a psych evaluation. We must protect all species not just humans, because when we eradicate a species we are signing our own doom....

[Linda Solman]

Stop This !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cakie]

why is the governmentts of the world so hell-bent on wiping out animal spieces from our lands ? Why do they hate animals so much? Why do they have such a taste for the life blood of others ? We need, as a governed people to really do a major " House Cleaning " in our government offices, including Judges chambers! Ken Salazar needs cast out of his position and not permitted any kind of job that would govern in any way the care or destruction of animals. he is an active animal hater and needs to be inactive concerning animals !!!!!!!!

[ok]

The point of the esa is to protect species from extinction. Only ignorant idiots think that the gray wolf is endangered. Get the facts and stop your uneducated emotional decision making process. We could be spending money on species that are actually endangered. Just because wolves are pretty doesn't mean they should be exempt from traditional management. Leave the science to the professionals and understand that the public outcry over the wolf is baseless. the biggest problem with America is regards and morons.have a say in policy.Luckily the professionals aren't obligated to listen to their prevarication