Feds back down on delisting wolves
The predators will continue to be protected as the government tries to rewrite a plan to remove them from the endangered species list.

BY ROCKY BARKER
Idaho Statesman
09/17/08

The federal government plans to withdraw a rule that removed wolves in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and parts of Utah, Oregon and Washington from the endangered species list.

If U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula agrees, a lawsuit filed by environmentalists will end, and federal biologists will get a chance to rewrite the plan to meet objections the judge made. Molloy's preliminary injunction July 17 temporarily relisted wolves and put a halt to plans in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to open hunting seasons on the animals.

Since that decision, the estimated 2,000 wolves in the Northern Rockies have been under federal management.

Ed Bangs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's top wolf manager, acknowledged the Bush administration had failed to explain why it was confident it could delist wolves without endangering the species again. Before the agency can issue a new rule, it must address Molloy's concerns, Bangs said.

"There's going to be a thorough, fine-toothed comb going through it to decide what we can do better," Bangs said.

The Natural Resources Defense Council and 11 other wolf advocacy groups demonstrated they would likely win the case on the merits of their arguments, Molloy said in his July opinion.

Molloy made that decision based on the wolf advocates' claim that wolves in Yellowstone National Park were not genetically mixing with other wolf populations, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said was necessary. If the wolves don't interbreed throughout the region, that could leave isolated and genetically threatened enclaves, not a sustainable population.

Malloy also criticized Wyoming's plan, which left 90 percent of the state open for wolf killing year-round.

But the judge said the Montana and Idaho wolf plans were good enough to protect wolves at least as well as the federal rules in place when the wolves were delisted. Idaho estimated it had a spring population of 1,063 and, before Molloy's ruling, had authorized a hunting season that would have allowed the killing of up to 428 wolves.

Bangs said shortly after the July decision that he was confident he could change the judge's mind on the genetics issue. But Wyoming's determination to let wolves be killed in much of the state was an issue that was harder to defend.

"Hopefully they'll go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan that better protects wolves," said Earthjustice attorney Doug Honnold, who had filed the lawsuit on behalf of environmentalists.Feds back down on delisting wolves

Yeah, we have the Dope-Smoking, Ultra-Liberal, Radical-Leftist, Lying-Adulterer clinton and his stooge babbet to thank for the Wolf reintroduction.

And of course, ANYONE who voted "democrat" which put those fools in office.

Please don't bash me for ignorance, but didn't the RMEF have something to do with the reintroduction as well?

quote:

Yeah, we have the Dope-Smoking, Ultra-Liberal, Radical-Leftist, Lying-Adulterer clinton and his stooge babbet to thank for the Wolf reintroduction.

No, we don't.

The recovery plan under the ESA for Rocky Mountain wolves, and plans for re-introduction preceded the Clinton administration by a couple decades and members of both parties supported it and funded it.

This was developed by USF&WS under Reagan,
Northern Rocky Mountain Recovery Plan

Shoot Shovel Shutup!
MM

quote:

Originally posted by Doc:
Please don't bash me for ignorance, but didn't the RMEF have something to do with the reintroduction as well?

Hey Doc, When Dart was in command of the RMEF, RMEF took a "neutral"(non-commenting) position about the democrats turning the Wolves loose on the western portion of the nation. And the Red Wolf being forced down our throats on the Carolina barrier islands. RMEF is primarily a "Land Conservation" operation similar to Ducks Unlimited, with a lot of effort in supporting a national Elk herd.

Anyone who is old enough to remember the Wolves being forced on us, realizes shinner's take on it is as valid as the Dope-Smoking, Ultra-Liberal, Radical-Leftist, Lying-Adulterer typical-democrat clinton saying, "I did not have sex with that woman, ... Ms. Lewenski!", while pointing his finger at all of us.

RMEF does help with Elk transplanting/reintroductions and have partnered with KY Fish & Wildlife to get a KY huntable Elk herd in the mountains and well beyond self supporting.

RMEF also has a fool (or hopefully had) named "crockett" who is Editor of the Bugle which is the RMEF magazine. Back when zumbo made his anti-firearm owner comments about the semi-autos, crockett inserted an Editorial in support of zumbo. I knew when I read it that all it would do was inflame the situation among the membership - and it did.

RMEF is also touted as being a HUGE family involvement organization. All the Banquets I went to had entire families, with the kids in attendance. Even had special Drawings and Raffles just for the youngsters. However, after the crocket/zumbo fiasco, I'd planned to drop my Membership at renewall time. Then the idiot crockett wrote a story about his getting caught Trespassing as a teen and laced it with vulgarity. In a Family oriented magazine!

So, I took the time to tell the new man in charge of RMEF(they had axed Dart) what I thought of the RMEF's lack of stance concerning the Wolf, the moronic fool crockett in particular, and told them to go on and remove me from the Membership - immediately!

RMEF does a lot of good things, but they still need a house-cleaning if crockett and people like him are still on the payroll.

Good Hunting and clean 1-shot Kills.

quote:

Anyone who is old enough to remember the Wolves being forced on us,

HotCore, may I point out that you're an idiot.

The red wolf recovery project also precedes Clinton and has had support and was funded by members of both parties in Congress. As well as having the recovery plans developed by USF&WS under Republican administrations.

Your comments reflect a lack of experience and knowledge.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I read somewhere that the RMEF donated $10,000 to reintroduce the wolf.

Steve

Here in Wyoming we have another problem, maybe worse that the wolves and that is the pine beetle. I was up near Dubois today looking for elk (all I seen were wolf tracks) and you have to look hard to find a live tree...sad.

It there anything except fire that will get rid of these little bastards??

Steve

Hey Steve, I think I remember seeing something about that "donation" here at AR before now that you mention it. Isn't something I have first-hand knowledge of.

Unlike the totally worthless democrats being responsible for throwing them on us after we got them wiped nearly out.

Steve is correct, the RMEF fully supported the introduction, and they did so with zeal and dollars.

The beetle kill is unreal isn't it! Out of boredum, while grounded in hunting camp from fog a week ago, I walked around an would count a 100 trees, almost 50% were dead or dying., From old growth to little seedlings. Then you look at huge patches of timber from a distance and it is very evident and down right depressing. I guess the wolves won't have to many places to hide in a few more years. There was a story by Doug Smith, the ultra left wing limp wrist wolf guru of Yellowstone, one pack is starting to specialize on killing Bison, #1 reason, fewer elk to prey on, and the goal of the wolf lovers was to get something in the park to kill bison to lower numbers so they could not or would not be hunted. "Goal accomplished"!

quote:

Unlike the totally worthless democrats being responsible for throwing them on us after we got them wiped nearly out.

Sniveling like that has never changed the Endangered Species Act, which was passed by Congress unanimously in 1973 and signed into law by Nixon.

And it has continued to enjoy bi-partisan support in Congress.

RMEF and SCI both appear the same to me....Lots of well meaning hunters lining the pockets of a select few. I find SCI especially elitist and disturbing. Both organizations and the endless raffles, pleas for money in the mail, dinners, ad nauseum.

SCI is about one thing....MONEY.

FN in MT

I feel like wolves were reintroduced in the west to eventually hurt big game hunting. There is already a difference in Idaho.

This past week I've had THREE competant and dedicated hunters I know ALL relate how areas they have hunted recently are elk FREE....but full of wolf sign.

IF the reintroduction wasn't designed as an anti hunting scheme it has sure worked out THAT way.

FN in MT

Frank, i agree with you 100%. The RMEF and SCI are about one thing. Money, and the wealty hunters who donate to them. I have never given either one a dime nor will i. As far as the wolves there is no doubt in my mind that they weren't reintroduced to "destroy hunting" period! No elk, moose, deer, etc. No More Hunters.

I blame liberals, for the wolves.

Shoot the wolves.
Vote out the liberals.