Wolf delisting set for March 28
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
March 17, 2008
Wolf delisting is slated to officially take place on March 28.
Here is a press release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
The February 27, 2008, published final rule to delist the northern Rocky Mountain distinct population segment (DPS) of the gray wolf (73 FR 10514) stated that Wyoming’s trophy game area in the northwestern portion of the State, outside lands administered by the National Park Service, would be included in the delisted DPS if the Wyoming State wolf management law becomes fully effective within 20 days of publication of the final rule and the Wyoming wolf management plan is legally authorized by the State statute.
Implementation of that law and the trophy game area of northwestern Wyoming was premised on Wyoming’s Governor certifying to the Wyoming Secretary of State that:
(1) the Service published a delisting rule that includes the entire State of Wyoming prior to February 28, 2007;
(2) the Service modified the 2005 special rule [10(j)] for the experimental population that addressed Wyoming’s concerns about wolf management to maintain ungulate herds above State management objectives; and
(3) settlement or resolution of the claims relating to the Service not approving Wyoming’s 2003 wolf management law and wolf plan.
The second criterion was satisfied on January 29, 2008, when the Wyoming Governor certified that the 10(j) rule modification satisfied Wyoming’s law. The first and third criterion was satisfied on February 27, 2008, when the Wyoming Governor certified that all the provisions of the Wyoming law have been met and its 2005 wolf management law and plan are in effect.
Because the Wyoming wolf management law and plan are now fully in effect, the final delisting rule published on February 27, 2008, will become effective on March 28, 2008.
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