Northern Rockies gray wolf will be removed from list in Wyoming

“Wyoming’s gray wolf population is stable, threats are sufficiently minimized, and a post-delisting monitoring and management framework has been developed,” the Fish and Wildlife Service said in a final rule to be published in the Federal Register that will remove ESA protection for gray wolves in Wyoming.

The decision means that the Northern Rocky Mountains Distinct Population Segment of the wolf will no longer be listed in Montana, Idaho or Wyoming. The first two states have already allowed hunting of the animals. The latest decision, feared and fought by environmental groups, paves the way for hunting in Wyoming.

• Final rule from ESWR (and posted by FWS)
• USFWS press release (8/31/2012)
• FWS wolf page
• Defenders of Wildlife’s release
• Center for Biological Diversity
• Earthjustice
• News coverage from Google search for “Wyoming wolf”
• Wyo. Gov. Matt Mead’s news release

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• Credit: Tracy Brooks/Mission Wolf / USFWS