The U.S. Federal District Court in Missoula, Montana, issued a preliminary
injunction on Friday, July 18, 2008, that immediately reinstated the
Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in the northern Rocky
Mountains.  That area includes all of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming and the
eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon and parts of north-central Utah.
This injunction will remain in place until final resolution of this case
occurs.

The Endangered Species Act provisions reinstated by the court are the same
ones in effect before wolves were delisted on March 28, 2008.  Any and all
wolf take permits issued by the States under State authorities while wolves
were delisted are null and void as of 4:04 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2008.
In the meantime, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners are
evaluating legal options regarding the Court’s order and the ongoing
litigation over the Service’s delisting of the northern Rocky Mountain wolf
population.  The Service believes gray wolves in the northern Rocky
Mountains have recovered and no longer need the protections of the
Endangered Species Act.

All wolves in the southern half of Montana, all of Idaho south of I-90, and
all of Wyoming will be managed under the 2005 and 2008 Endangered Species
Act nonessential experimental population regulations.  To better understand
these regulations, please visit the Service’s website at
http://www.fws.gov/mountain-priaire/species/mammls/wolf/.  These
regulations allow people to take wolves under certain circumstances, such
as when wolves are in the physical act of killing, wounding, chasing, or
molesting legally present livestock and dogs.  Any killing or wounding of a
wolf in that area must be reported within 24 hours and the scene should not
be disturbed.  Each incident will be investigated by law enforcement agents
to determine that the physical evidence at the scene demonstrates those
wolves were in the act of attacking livestock and dogs.  Please see the
maps on the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks website
(http://fwp.mt.gov) regarding the specific experimental population borders
in Montana.  Wolves outside of the experimental population areas, including
all those in the northern half of Montana and all of Washington, Oregon,
and Utah, are listed as endangered and may not be legally harmed by the
public, except if it is to defend an immediate and direct threat to human
life.

Any other conflict with wolves listed as endangered may be legally
addressed only by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or its legally
designated Federal, State, or Tribal agency agents.  Violations of the
Endangered Species Act can result in penalties up to $100,000 in fines and
one year incarceration.

Under cooperative agreements with the Service that have been in place for
the past 3-4 years, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will continue to lead
all wolf management activities under the Endangered Species Act regulations
in Montana.  Idaho Department of Fish and Game will continue to lead all
wolf management activities under the Endangered Species Act regulations in
Idaho.  Until a similar cooperative agreement can be finalized with
Wyoming, the Service has resumed the lead for all wolf management
activities throughout all of Wyoming.  All wolves in all areas of Wyoming
are protected by the Endangered Species Act as a nonessential experimental
population.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to
conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and
trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific
excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated
professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our
work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

 

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