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The Wolf is Back!

A decade after the reintroduction: a story of success and controversy
After a 60 year absence, with great fanfare and celebration the wolf was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. From an original population of 14 animals in 1995, the wolf population in Yellowstone National Park has grown to approximately 320 wolves, which include 33 breeding pair. Wolves have established themselves beyond the confines of Yellowstone National Park, as expected. In many aspects, wolf recovery has been a great success and landmark conservation triumph.

However, several threats must be addressed if true wolf recovery is to be assured into the future. These include finding ways for humans and wolves to coexist outside of Yellowstone Park. Most wolf deaths are at the hands of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which, in many cases, responds to wolf/livestock conflicts with lethal force against wolves.

Now that wolves are fully recovered in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem it is necessary for them to be removed from the endangered species list and management of the wolves be handed to the states Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Before the Yellowstone population of wolves can be removed from the endangered species list the three states must develop management plans that ensure the survival the wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. These state management plans must be approved by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

Idaho and Montana’s wolf management plans have been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unfortunately Wyoming chose to develop at plan that would allow wolves to be shot on sight if they are outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and adjacent wilderness areas. Because of this the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service rejected Wyoming’s plan.

Instead of developing a plan that is acceptable Wyoming chose to sue the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to force the agency to accept its plan. U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson dismissed the lawsuit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's rejection of Wyoming's wolf management plan. Wyoming is now appealing the judge’s decision to the 10 Circuit Court of Appeals further delaying delisting.

The Greater Yellowstone Coalition is working to ensure that Idaho and Montana’s management plans are not weakened and maintain adequate protections wolves and that Wyoming develops a plan that allows for a sustainable population of wolves in the Yellowstone area.
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Photos (clockwise from upper left): NPS Photo, Diane Hargreaves, JupiterImages

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