California may give wolves endangered species status

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Gray wolves.

State game commission to vote on listing in October

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — California biologists say that gray wolves in their state qualify for protection under the California Endangered Species Act, even though only one wolf — an immigrant from Oregon — is known to live there now.

Responding to a petition from wildlife conservation advocates, the California Department of Fish and Game last week recommended the endangered species status to the state’s fish and game commission, which will vote on the issue in October.

California is grappling with the issue against an interesting backdrop. A lone wolf that wandered from Oregon continues to roam the wild northeastern quadrant of the state, and wildlife advocates say there’s room for more. At the same time, the federal government is considering removing wolves from the endangered species list on other parts of the country. (more…)

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Wildlife: Feds propose de-listing Great Lakes wolves

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A gray wolf molts in early June.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also studying eastern wolf population, recently determined to be a separate species

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to delist wolves in the western Great Lakes region and is taking public comment through early July. In particular, the agency is interested in information on threats and impacts on wolves and their habitat, and any data on the taxonomy of wolves in the region and throughout the eastern United States. Click here to get more information on commenting.

Delisting wolves would put them back under management of state wildlife agencies. Those agencies have made it clear that they would drastically reduce wolf populations. Minnesota’s plan resurrects a version of the old bounty system by paying state-certified predator controllers $150 for each wolf killed. The Wisconsin plan seeks to reduce the state population by half to reach a target of 350 wolves. (more…)

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Biodiversity: Congress challenged on wolf delisting

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Western lawmakers use budget battle to advance their anti-wildlife agenda

Gray wolves in the northern Rockies. PHOTO BY THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — In the big congressional budget battle last month, wolves may have been one of the big losers, as a rider attached to the spending bill by western lawmakers removed Endangered Species Act protections for the carnivores in Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon and Washington, and northern Utah.

It’s the first time that Congress has successfully meddled in the field of conservation biology, but the move won’t go unchallenged. Conservation advocates, led by the Center for Biological Diversity, last week filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging Congress on constitutional grounds. The lawsuit claims that Congress violated the separation of powers provision included in the Third Amendment. Get more information on wolf conservation at the Center for Biological Diversity’s wolf web page.

(more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, endangered species, Environment, federal government, Summit County news, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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