Governor Mead Pleased With Wolf Management Progress

Following the Obama administration announcement that it will lift 5,500 wolves from endangered species act protections, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead said in a release Wednesday that he is looking forward to the time when Wyoming has control over the wolves in the state.

"I am hopeful that we are close to an agreement with the Fish and Wildlife Service to move a proposal to Congress. I continue to believe that wolves should be delisted and a proposal should move through Congress, preventing litigation. Otherwise, Wyoming loses as wolf numbers grow and more big game and livestock are killed." -Governor Mead

Wolves in eight states in the Northern Rockies and Great Lakes will return to state control according to the AP. But today's announcement leaves the fate of about 340 wolves in Wyoming unresolved. Wyoming was not included because of a state law which would allow the animals to be shot on sight in most of the state.

Governor Mead said he is pleased with the announcement that wolves would come off the list in several other Western states. He also said he appreciates that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar would restate his commitment to working with Wyoming to get wolves taken off the Endangered Species List in Wyoming.

The conversation between Wyoming and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is ongoing.