Plan for Delisting Wyoming Wolves Announced

An agreement appears to have been reached between state and federal officials over how to remove wolves from the Endangered Species List in Wyoming. Governor Matt Mead released on Wednesday that he and representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have finalized the elements of a proposed plan. The plan is meant to ensure a stable and sustainable population of wolves in Wyoming while still allowing wolves to be shot on sight in most of the state.

The State Legislature must approve the proposed plan, which holds Wyoming to maintaining at least 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs outside of Yellowstone National Park. Also, the Trophy Game Management Area (TGMA) would extend about 50 miles to the south from October 15 to the end of February. All Wyoming wolves outside the TGMA will be managed as predatory animals if the plan is approved.

U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) praised Mead on Wednesday for reaching an agreement on a wolf management plan for Wyoming with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

"After years of unnecessary delay, it's good that we are finally seeing progress from Washington on this issue. I am pleased that Governor Mead has reached a delisting agreement with the Department of Interior. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should honor this agreement and fulfill its promise to expedite a delisting rule."

The plan is the culmination of many years of work between Wyoming stakeholders and federal officials. Last month Interior Secretary Ken Salazar traveled to Wyoming with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Director to discuss wolf management with Mead. Wednesday's announcement was referred to by Mead as an important step but he stressed there are more to come,

"This is far from the end of this process, but I think we have come up with something that fits with Wyoming's values and economy. For years ranchers and sheep producers have been asked to sacrifice and they have. We have lost significant numbers of elk and moose, and we have not had a say in the management of an animal inside Wyoming. It is time for that to change and I appreciate Secretary Salazar and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working with us. Wolves are recovered in Wyoming; let's get them off the Endangered Species List."

Wolves in Wyoming were kept on the Endagered Species List while they were delisted in eight other states because of a Wyoming law which allows predatory animals to be shot on site.