Endangered species protections have been reinstated for the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes region.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that Endangered Species Act protections are reinstated for the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes region.
However, the status may only be temporary.
Thanks to a settlement agreement reached in a lawsuit challenging the Service’s removal of ESA protections for the western Great Lakes gray wolf, the species will remain on the endangered species list during the public comment period.
Unfortunately, the reinstatement may not be permanent; the court could decide to de-list the wolves once again.
According to a USFWS spokesperson, the court determined that an appropriate public comment period had not been provided prior to removing the wolves’ protections.
The reinstatement takes wolf management authority away from state wildlife regulators in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin – for now. Federal authorities will determine whether or not to de-list the wolves again after considering additional information.
There are reportedly around 4,000 wolves in the western Great Lakes region.
Image source: flickr.com/tambako / CC BY-ND 2.0
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