On Tuesday, September 23rd, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that Wyoming’s wolf management plan relied too heavily on “nonbinding and unenforceable representations” by the state—a move that returned Wyoming wolves to federal management and protection under the Endangered Species Act. The decision means that all hunting of the wolves under Wyoming’s management plan will cease immediately, including the 2014 hunt which was slated to begin this week.
The issue began in August 2012 after successful population recovery efforts led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to remove wolves from the endangered species list and hand control to state officials. The state then moved quickly to establish hunting seasons to control the population of the recovered species under a state management plan approved by USFWS. In response, the Humane Society of the United States, the Sierra Club, and Defenders of Wildlife sued in federal court to overturn USFWS’s decision to accept Wyoming’s state management plan for wolves.
After a lengthy court battle, Judge Jackson upheld the delisting on all issues except the technicality regarding enforceability. However, the end result was she sided with the animal rights groups in a decision to restore federal protection.
In response to Judge Jackson’s ruling, Wyoming officials scrambled to pass emergency administrative rules addressing her concerns. Despite this, on Tuesday September 30th, Judge Jackson denied those efforts. Wyoming and the USFWS will now have to decide whether to fight the ruling on appeal, or begin the process of a new wolf management plan—which could take years to finish.
“The disappointing part of this ruling is that there is clear consensus among both state and federal regulators that wolves are neither threatened nor endangered,” said Evan Heusinkveld, USSA vice president of government affairs. “Unfortunately, Judge Jackson’s ruling will likely mean additional years of expensive litigation before wolves in Wyoming will be properly managed.”
According to state population data, after the first wolf season in 2012, Wyoming had 190 wolves and 15 breeding pairs. At the end of 2013, after another wolf season, the population had grown to 199 wolves in 30 packs, with 15 breeding pairs.
Federal efforts to reintroduce wolves in Yellowstone National Park date back to the 1990’s. Wyoming’s neighbor states, Montana and Idaho, each manage wolf populations under state management programs approved by USFWS.
“Hunting plays a significant role in responsible, scientific wildlife management,” Heusinkveld continued. “It is unfortunate that the animal rights movement continues to utilize any means available to them to thwart proper wildlife management.”