Gray wolves off endangered list
Gray wolves in the Northern Rockies were removed from the endangered species list Thursday, said The Daily Green.
The wolves have been on the list for 13 years, and their population has skyrocketed as a result of the protection, conservationists said. About 1,500 wolves live in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, which is a promising change, said MSNBC. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23275622)
The U.S. Department of Interior announced the removal, which allows for hunting of gray wolves to begin again, possibly in the upcoming year. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23275622) .
Conservation groups such as the Sierra Club are encouraged by the increasing numbers of gray wolves, but do not want the animals off the endangered species list.
“The decision to remove protections for wolves is premature. We still have a long way to go before wolf populations are sustainable over the long term. This is like declaring victory at mile eighteen in a marathon,� said Melanie Stein, a spokeswoman for the Sierra Club. The Daily Green