On March 28, 2008 gray wolves in the US Fish and Wildlife Service Western Reintroduction area of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming were officially de-listed as an endangered species. With the change in status, management of gray wolves reverts to the three states as outlined in plans submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service by each of the states prior to de-listing. While the specifics of each state’s plan varies somewhat, the controversy initiated by the change in protective status is uniform, and immediately a number of environmental groups filed lawsuits attempting to challenge the federal action and the state management plans.
Biological Success Story or Wildlife Management Juggernaut?
Often viewed by biologists and wildlife managers as one of the most successful reintroduction programs in history, 66 wolves were released by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in the mid 1990s. Estimates now suggest that there are approximately 1,500 wolves and 100 breeding pairs living within the three state area bordering Yellowstone. There have been isolated reports of wolf sightings in Colorado, Oregon, and Utah. The federal de-listing mandates that the three states bordering the original reintroduction areas—Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming—manage wolf populations in a manner that ensures total numbers do not drop below 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs in each of the states. Many ranchers argue that the federal minimums remain too high, while many animal rights and environmental protection groups fear de-listing threatens wolf recovery.
An Overview of State Regulations
Each of the states involved developed slightly different management programs, although they share more similarities than differences. In Idaho wolves may now be killed on sight without a permit if they are seen actively attacking or harassing livestock or domestic pets, and all wolf kills must be reported within 72 hours. Like in Idaho, wolves in Montana may also be shot on sight if seen actively biting, chasing, or harassing livestock or pets, although otherwise they are viewed as remaining “protected by law.” Physical evidence of harassment, such as wolf-killed carcasses, broken fences, or wolf sign, must be provided if a wolf is killed.
Wyoming has the most complex policy in place, and some would argue the most controversial. Wyoming has divided the state into two zones: one, now labeled a Trophy Hunting area, encompasses much of the Northwest portion of the state, areas bordering Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Within the Trophy Hunting Zone, Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials will release a limited number of hunting permits to kill trophy animals, although within the zone, ranchers witnessing wolves in the act of attacking livestock may kill wolves without a license and continue to be eligible for financial compensation if they offer evidence that wolves have killed their stock. The rest of the state will now treat wolves as a predator species, allowing anyone to shoot the animals on sight without a license and without providing evidence that the wolves have harassed or killed livestock. The management plan allows Game and Fish officials to hunt wolves they believe to be problem animals from planes and helicopters and it is legal for livestock producers to employ poisons if following US Department of Agriculture regulations. In all three states, the broader regulations apply on both public and private lands. One initial reaction to the Wyoming regulations has a California women calling for a boycott of Wyoming products and tourism. Details of each management plan are available though their respective Game and Fish agencies.
Wolf Martyr?
Fueling the controversy immediately upon official federal de-listing, within the first week of state takeover of wolf management, ten wolves were killed in Wyoming, all in Sublette County in a Predator zone that borders the Trophy Hunting zone. By the end of the second week after federal removal of endangered species status, three more wolves were killed. While the govenor of Wyoming contends that wolves will quickly grow smart enough to avoid hunters, biologists remain uncertain how quickly animals can adapt to new human behaviors. Adding to the rallying cry of environmental groups opposed to de-listing, one of the wolves killed wore the radio collar #253M, a wolf that had received something near legendary status among animal advocates after surviving a coyote trap near Ogden, UT and trekking hundreds of miles closer to its original home range near Daniel, WY with a maimed foot. The killing of 253M, originally a member of the “Druid” pack, along with several of his offspring, suggests that the entire pack hunting near Daniel has likely been eradicated.
Whether the pace of these early killings will continue remains unclear. Equally unclear is whether the loss of wolves like 253M will serve as a rallying cry for a coalition of environmental groups fighting state takeover of management programs or if his presence outside the original release area and within traditional ranching country will further renew many livestock producer’s traditional hatred of the predator species.
