Wolf Management in the Doghouse

 TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 5, 2005 – Two recent court rulings have set back wolf management in the U.S.  SCI has expressed concern over these two federal court decisions that have prohibited effective management of growing gray wolf populations, and hindered the potential for sportsman participation in said management.   

In one case last August, the honorable Judge Garvan Murtha, of the U.S. District Court of Vermont, issued another disappointing ruling against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s attempt to reclassify the gray wolf species from "endangered" to "threatened" status. On Sept. 13, wolf management received a third judicial setback when the honorable Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle, of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, took action prohibiting Michigan and Wisconsin from lethally taking problem wolves preying on livestock and other domestic animals.   

“Who else but our appointed state and federal wildlife officials have the expertise and the authority to ensure that the Endangered Species Act is properly enforced and our nation’s wildlife is scientifically conserved?” said SCI Executive Director Tom Riley.  “SCI will continue to support the reclassification of the gray wolf and will support the Service’s efforts to rectify these erroneous judicial rulings.”

The contention surrounding wolf reclassification began in October of 2003 when a cabal of animal rights organizations, including Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and others, brought to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon a case challenging the USFWS’ authority to change the gray wolf’s ESA classification.  SCI intervened in that case, together with the Oregon Hunters’ Association, the American Farm Bureau and the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, to support gray wolf recovery achieved by the USFWS and to help the USFWS defend against the challenge that had been waged against the rule to reclassify wolves. 

Instead of recognizing the USFWS’ monumental conservation efforts that resulted in the recovery of large, healthy and viable wolf populations in both the Eastern and Western United States, the Oregon Court invalidated the USFWS’ Final Rule to reclassify gray wolves from “endangered” to “threatened” status.   As a result, gray wolves throughout the United States retained their “endangered” classification. The USFWS has reserved the right to appeal the Oregon Court's ruling, but has indicated that an appeal is unlikely. 

The Vermont case, brought by a second set of Plaintiffs, also offered a disappointing result for gray wolf recovery.  The Vermont Court's opinion does nothing to overturn or modify the current "endangered" status of gray wolves imposed by the Oregon Court’s determination. In addition, Judge Murtha addressed some issues that were outside the focus of the Oregon Court's previous ruling.  He ruled that the USFWS had improperly deleted a proposed Northeastern Distinct Population Segment of wolves, without first giving the public an opportunity to comment on the matter, and that the USFWS improperly lumped the Northeastern states into a single Distinct Population Segment that also included the wolf populations of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

 In the Sept. 13 ruling, Judge Huvelle invalidated the permits that Michigan and Wisconsin had been using under permit authority issued by the USFWS to cull the two state’s problem wolves, and ordered that no further wolves be taken under those permits.  The USFWS admitted to the Court it had inappropriately issued the states’ permits without first publishing notice of the permit applications and without allowing public comment on the applications.  Both Michigan and Wisconsin have submitted new permit applications and the USFWS has published a Federal Register Notice to solicit comments on the wolf depredation permits.  Once a thirty day comment period is completed, the USFWS can move forward to issue new permits to replace those invalidated by the Court. 

SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide.   SCI’s 173 Chapters represent all 50 United States as well as 13 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation.  Visit www.safariclub.org or call 520-620-1220 for more information. 

 SCI’s record-breaking 33rd Annual Hunters’ Convention hosted more than 19,700 sportsmen from 50 countries around the world.  Thanks to over 1,100 top exhibitors helping hunters realize dreams around the globe, the Convention raised nearly $11 million for SCI and the SCI Foundation.  To register to attend SCI’s 34th Annual Hunters’ Convention, in Reno Jan. 18-21, 2006, call 888-746-9724 toll-free or visit www.safariclub.org.

 Professional journalists wishing to attend SCI’s 34th Annual Hunters’ Convention as members of the working media may register online at www.sci-foundation.org/pr/pressreg06/, or call Eva Wilson, SCI Marketing and Communications Coordinator, at 520-620-1220, ext. 337. 

 

Contact:

Matt Anderson

520-620-1220, ext. 268

manderson@safariclub.org