Watch out! The Administration has hatched a quickie scheme to delist the wolf

That didn’t take long – and it comes on the hip of troubling news about population numbers in general in the Northern Rockies – and even the recent sobering news about Yellowstone’s wolves.  I guess they figure they better jam this thing into gear before the next administration –  I don’t remember seeing any news about Wyoming having a sudden change of heart…  or about rectifying any number of the other variables contributing to the recklessness of the prior rule.

Check out the 6th paragraph (2nd to last) of the news release – it’s as if they’re still clinging to the strict numbers (30 breeding pair 300 wolves for 3 years) claim.

brian ertz

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Added Administration Reopens Effort to De-List Endangered Gray Wolves. By Joel Achenbach. Washington Post Staff Writer. Friday, October 24, 2008.
Added. Public comments reopened on delisting wolves. By MICHAEL JAMISON of the Missoulian.
Added. Feds will try again to get wolves off endangered list. Wyoming’s loose rules still pose a problem. But wolves could be delisted in other states, including Idaho, before Bush leaves office. By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman.

Ralph Maughan

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The News Release:

October 24, 2008
Contact: Ed Bangs, (406) 449-5225, x204

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REOPENS

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON 2007 PROPOSAL TO DELIST

NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN POPULATION OF GRAY WOLVES

UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it is reopening the public comment period on its proposal to delist the gray wolf in the northern Rocky Mountains.  The public will have until November 28, 2008, to submit their comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or via U.S. mail or hand delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn:  RIN 1018-Au53; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA  22203.

Yellowstone Ecosystem Grizzly Population Doing Well In 2008, But Bear Fatalities Pose Potential For Concern

Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bear population doing OK (but bear mortality up)-
Male grizzly death limits have been exceeded this year-

BOZEMAN – The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) comprised of state and federal agencies that monitor grizzly bear population trends in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, reports there were 44 unduplicated females with cubs of the year counted in the Yellowstone Ecosystem during 2008.  There were 84 cubs observed with these 44 females during initial observations. Numbers of unique females with cubs tend to decrease in years following good cub production.  Fifty females were counted in 2007, the second highest ever recorded, so the slight decline in 2008 was anticipated.

Population estimates are derived from counts of females with cubs.  This year’s estimate of 596 bears was
higher than last years estimate of 571.  Trend information suggests the population continues to grow at about 4% annually.

Pronghorn numbers rising in SW Montana

Pronghorn populations small but rising on this side of Divide, and hunting can be a challenge even where animals are abundant. By Rob Chaney. Missoulian

I think they are down just across the state boundary in Idaho.