GREY WOLVES NEED NATIONAL RECOVERY PLAN
Last
week in Montana, a federal judge overturned the Obama administration’s
decision to remove Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in
the northern Rocky Mountains. The ruling wasn’t unprecedented: The
courts have blocked five previous attempts to lift protections from
wolves in either the Rocky Mountains or the Great Lakes.
Gray wolves need national recovery plan
By Noah Greenwald
Last
week in Montana, a federal judge overturned the Obama administration’s
decision to remove Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in
the northern Rocky Mountains. The ruling wasn’t unprecedented: The
courts have blocked five previous attempts to lift protections from
wolves in either the Rocky Mountains or the Great Lakes.
In
this case, the judge concluded that splitting the northern Rockies
population along state lines — retaining wolf protections in Wyoming
while removing them in Montana, Idaho, Utah and other states — was “at
its heart a political solution” that does not comply with the law.
this case, the judge concluded that splitting the northern Rockies
population along state lines — retaining wolf protections in Wyoming
while removing them in Montana, Idaho, Utah and other states — was “at
its heart a political solution” that does not comply with the law.
We
couldn’t agree more. Both the Bush and Obama administrations have taken
a piecemeal approach to recovering these majestic canines, moving to
remove protections even though wolf populations struggle to survive and
occupy a fraction of their historic range in the lower 48 states.
couldn’t agree more. Both the Bush and Obama administrations have taken
a piecemeal approach to recovering these majestic canines, moving to
remove protections even though wolf populations struggle to survive and
occupy a fraction of their historic range in the lower 48 states.
Once
— before bounties, government-funded extermination projects and
expansive human settlement — wolves freely roamed much of the United
States. They were abundant across most of the West’s mountains and
valleys, including Utah, in the dense Eastern forests, the lush
grasslands of the Great Plains and elsewhere. Scientists estimate there
were once about 2 million wolves in North America.
— before bounties, government-funded extermination projects and
expansive human settlement — wolves freely roamed much of the United
States. They were abundant across most of the West’s mountains and
valleys, including Utah, in the dense Eastern forests, the lush
grasslands of the Great Plains and elsewhere. Scientists estimate there
were once about 2 million wolves in North America.
Most are
gone now, victims of an unwillingness primarily on the part of the
livestock industry to coexist with a predator so wild and complex and
uncontrolled. Today, a mere 5,000 to 6,000 wolves occupy roughly 5
percent of their historic range.
gone now, victims of an unwillingness primarily on the part of the
livestock industry to coexist with a predator so wild and complex and
uncontrolled. Today, a mere 5,000 to 6,000 wolves occupy roughly 5
percent of their historic range.
That’s why the Center for
Biological Diversity filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to develop a national recovery plan for wolves. The plan would
provide a much-needed road map for establishing wolf populations in
suitable habitat in Utah, the Pacific Northwest, California, Great
Basin, southern Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains and New England.
Specifically, scientists have identified areas in the Uinta Mountains
and elsewhere in the state of Utah that could support wolves.
Biological Diversity filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to develop a national recovery plan for wolves. The plan would
provide a much-needed road map for establishing wolf populations in
suitable habitat in Utah, the Pacific Northwest, California, Great
Basin, southern Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains and New England.
Specifically, scientists have identified areas in the Uinta Mountains
and elsewhere in the state of Utah that could support wolves.
Establishing
wolf populations throughout much of the country — and corridors for
individuals to travel back and forth — will not only increase numbers
but will also allow for needed genetic exchange.
wolf populations throughout much of the country — and corridors for
individuals to travel back and forth — will not only increase numbers
but will also allow for needed genetic exchange.
But the problem is, this sort of national perspective on wolf restoration has never been applied by the government.
Instead,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relies on outdated, decades-old
plans that view wolf restoration as a piecemeal project — a few wolf
populations here and there — and underestimate how many are needed for
true recovery. The recovery plan for the northern Rockies, for example,
calls for a population of just 30 breeding pairs spread between three
populations.
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relies on outdated, decades-old
plans that view wolf restoration as a piecemeal project — a few wolf
populations here and there — and underestimate how many are needed for
true recovery. The recovery plan for the northern Rockies, for example,
calls for a population of just 30 breeding pairs spread between three
populations.
There were 115 wolf pairs in 2009, but because
the plan sets the bar far lower than this, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana,
to varying degrees, would all like to drastically slash wolf populations
from where they are now to near the very low thresholds established in
the recovery plan. This would drastically reduce the potential for
wolves to move into Utah.
the plan sets the bar far lower than this, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana,
to varying degrees, would all like to drastically slash wolf populations
from where they are now to near the very low thresholds established in
the recovery plan. This would drastically reduce the potential for
wolves to move into Utah.
We’ve learned so much more about
wolves since these plans were written. We know more about their
behavior, their ecology and what’s needed for healthy, sustainable
populations.
wolves since these plans were written. We know more about their
behavior, their ecology and what’s needed for healthy, sustainable
populations.
But rather than embracing what we’ve learned and
taking a national scope for wolf recovery, the government has been busy
trying to lift protections and defending its own flawed decisions.
taking a national scope for wolf recovery, the government has been busy
trying to lift protections and defending its own flawed decisions.
We
hope our petition sparks a new national conversation about finishing
the job of wolf restoration in a way that identifies suitable habitat,
considers connectivity between populations, and gives this vital animal a
chance to help us learn to live in balance. Unlike the government’s
multiple failed attempts to prematurely wash their hands of wolf
recovery, such an approach would have no problem passing legal muster.
hope our petition sparks a new national conversation about finishing
the job of wolf restoration in a way that identifies suitable habitat,
considers connectivity between populations, and gives this vital animal a
chance to help us learn to live in balance. Unlike the government’s
multiple failed attempts to prematurely wash their hands of wolf
recovery, such an approach would have no problem passing legal muster.
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