Wyo. Petition to Delist Wolf Denied

July 28, 2006 - On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied a petition from the state of Wyoming asking them to remove the gray wolf population in the northern Rocky Mountains from the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

The action may mean further delays in the delisting of wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains, including in Montana and Idaho, even as the wolf population in the region soars.

Wyoming had proposed a policy of allowing wolves to live unmolested in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The state also proposed to allow trophy hunting for the animals in a large area immediately outside the parks while classifying them as predators that could be shot on sight elsewhere.

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal confirmed that it is likely the state will challenge this latest decision in court and have a judge decide if the state's plan is scientifically adequate.

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