Elk numbers rise south of Jackson, WY. Moose and pronghorn populations southeast of Jackson.

This is not an overview of all of Wyoming, or even NW Wyoming. It’s a story mostly about the country southwest of Jackson Hole — the Fall Creek elk herd. Ironically, this herd is in the area where all wolves can be killed by anyone at will beginning March 28.

Elk herd prolific in latest census. By Angus M. Thuermer Jr. Jackson Hole News and Guide.

Lawsuit to stop wolf delisting to be filed April 28, not March 28.

There will not be a lawsuit filed to stop delisting on March 28. Plaintiffs will wait (will have to wait) until April 28. They might seek an injunction, however, if one or more of the states uses the period to kill a lot of wolves.

I would urge everyone to be vigilant, especially in Wyoming.

Wolves on schedule to leave the endangered list Friday. Advocacy groups plan to sue in April but say they’ll act sooner if too many wolves are getting killed. By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman.

Federal wolf recovery project leader for Wyoming, Mike Jimenez, to be out of job March 28.

Story in the Casper Star Tribune. End of the Trail. By Chris Merrill.

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Related. Rocky Barker’s blog, “Letters from the West,” has a story about Jemenez coupled with discussion that wolves were moving southward into Idaho and NW Montana prior to the wolf reintroduction. Note that Barker does not say wolf reintroduction in Idaho was, therefore unneeded. He correctly says it was going nowhere because of poisonings and shootings of the in-migrating wolves.

Wolves will be delisted in Eastern Oregon too, but protection continues under state plan

The delisting of the wolf is scheduled to go into effect March28. The boundaries of the delisted zone are “generous,” wiping out federal protection in Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington and Northern Utah as well as Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

A radio-collared wolf from Idaho’s Timberline pack dispersed into the NE Oregon Wallowas last winter. This wolf and all others in the entirely of Oregon will continue to be protected because Oregon has a fairly strong state wolf plan.

Meanwhile the wolf is being watched closely, and there is evidence of more single wolves and a least one group in the state.

Wolves get federal delisting in Eastern Oregon. Wallowa Chiefton.

Earlier story. Radio-Collared Gray Wolf from Idaho is Verified In Northeast Oregon. Jan. 24, 2008.

Later story. Wolf actions elsewhere won’t affect Oregon rules. Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have ended endangered status. Statesman-News. This story describes the Oregon state wolf plan.

Since ’01, Guarding Species Is Harder. Endangered Listings Drop Under Bush

Since ’01, Guarding Species Is Harder. Endangered Listings Drop Under Bush. By Juliet Eilperin. Washington Post Staff Writer.

The Bush Administration has not taken the initiative to list a single species. Two have gone extinct waiting during its “watch.” As far as not having enough resources to do the job or handle the petitions, it is a case of feigned constraint. The Administration asks for a pittance for the USFWS. While Congress increases the President’s request, the President’s budget request almost always sets the range.

For example, if the President asks 30-million, Congress may give 40-million; but if the President had asked 175-million, even a budget-cutting Congress might give 130-million dollars.

Almost no one in this Administration gives damn about endangered species, or just plain fish and wildlife.

Anger Over Culling of Yellowstone’s Bison

Anger Over Culling of Yellowstone’s Bison. By Jim Robbins. New York Times.

Finally, coverage of the bison slaughter by the national media — the New York Times.

Governor Schweitzer says Republican Montana US Representative went out of his way to kill the congressional appropriation to buy up cattle grazing on CUT’s Royal Teton Ranch. So the lone Montana US House race could be near term outlet for people’s energy and resources, but it would be unwise to let the Democrats (the rest of Montana’s major politicians) off the hook.