Judge in Montana rules that FWS delisting of wolves likely violates ESA, but hunt continues!

According to a press release from Defenders of Wildlife, the U.S. District Court of Montana agreed that U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service most likely violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA), in prematurely delisting wolves in Idaho and Montana.

Defenders of Wildlife is disappointed that the judge declined to immediately halt the ongoing wolf hunt, but are optimistic the court will ultimately over turn the wolf delisting and restore ESA protection for wolves in the Northern Rockies.

The following is a statement by Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife:

“A hunting season for wolves at this point in time still poses a threat to the Northern Rockies population and we’re disappointed that the court did not grant our motion to immediately stop the hunt. We’re pleased, however, that the court recognizes that we are likely to prevail on our legal claim that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acted illegally by delisting wolves in Idaho, Montana, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and portions of north-central Utah.

“We will continue to press our lawsuit challenging the delisting and are optimistic that the court will ultimately rule in our favor, restoring federal protections to Northern Rockies wolves.”

The following is a statement by Suzanne Stone, Northern Rockies representative for Defenders of Wildlife.

“We’re hopeful that the ongoing hunt is only a temporary setback on the road to accomplishing our ultimate goal: Restoring protections for wolves until a scientifically sound delisting rule that ensures a healthy regional wolf population, and adequate state plans are in place.”

No other organization in the United States has a longer history, as many resources or as much success in protecting wolves as Defenders of Wildlife.

Since these majestic animals were first listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, we have been a leader in wolf conservation. Defenders of Wildlife was the first wildlife organization to advocate for the return of the wolf to Yellowstone National Park and elsewhere in the northern Rockies, and our staff was there in 1995 and 1996 assisting in the effort to reintroduce wolves to Yellowstone and central Idaho.

Today, Defenders of Wildlife continues to champion expanded wolf recovery throughout the region, working on many fronts to safeguard wolves in the northern Rockies.

Other articles of interest:

Wildlife coalition will battle Salazar to save gray wolves from slaughter

Salazar’s legacy: first historic state-sanctioned hunt of Northern Rockies wolves

Ken Salazar under attack again for failing to protect wildlife

With Sarah Palin gone, shooting wolves from airplanes increasingly under fire

Source: Press release fromDefenders of Wildlife 09/09/2009. Reprint with no copyright restrictions.
Contact:
Suzanne Stone: (208)424-9385, (208)861-4655
Erin McCallum: (202)772-3217; (610)207-5209