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Appeals Court keeps wolves on endangered list

Farm leaders are criticizing a decision by a Washington D.C. Court of Appeals to keep gray wolves on the Endangered Species list.

American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Public Lands Council, and others criticized the justices for not removing wolves from the list, even though wolf populations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wyoming have greatly exceeded population targets.

Ethan Lane from the Public Lands Council says, “Rather than celebrating the successful recovery of this species, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin will continue to be held hostage to the whims of radical environmental activists.”

AFBF President Zippy Duvall criticized the court, saying neither the goals outlined in recovery plans nor the aggressive and successful leadership to save the wolves moved the court to do the right thing.

Ryan Yates from American Farm Bureau says they are continuing to work with lawmakers to update the Endangered Species Act and to legislatively remove wolves from the endangered list.

State agencies estimate more than 4,000 wolves now roam the Great Lakes states.  Producers report livestock losses almost daily and can do little to protect their animals.

Both of Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators are disappointed in the court’s decision.  Democrat Tammy Baldwin issued a statement saying, “The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) did not adequately consider a number of factors in making its decision to delist the Gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes states, including the predator’s recovery in other areas, such as New England, North Dakota and South Dakota. The Gray wolf has recovered in Wisconsin according to federal and state biologists.”  Baldwin says she is also working on legislation that would address the issue.

Republican Ron Johnson says, “Unfortunately, given Harry Reid’s successful packing of the D.C. circuit with judicial activists, this outrageous decision was to be expected. Regardless of what judges in Washington imagine, the government’s own wildlife experts have ascertained that the species is not endangered. Indeed, the wolf population in northern Wisconsin is causing major problems for farmers and ranchers as it continues to grow unchecked. Wisconsin should be permitted to manage the wolf population according to science rather than judicial whim.”  Johnson has introduced legislation in consecutive sessions of Congress to delist the gray wolf in Wisconsin and allow wolf management plans that are based on federal and state wildlife expertise.

 

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