Is decision to delist Gray Wolf from Endangered Species list flawed policy?
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A recent decision by the United States congress to delist the gray wolf from the endangered species list in the Rocky Mountain states has caused controversy and may have long reaching impact for the animals recovery throughout the western United States.
Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Eco-system (GYE) are essentially the same as they were before European-American’s started settling the Western United States, with the exception of a few developed towns such as Jackson Hole. This area turned the clock backwards another notch with the re-introduction of the gray wolf in 1996. Since this time wolves have recovered quickly and can now be found throughout the Rocky Mountain area with confirmed wolf populations in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and sitings in Utah and Colorado.
Wolves are an apex predator, or top of the food chain predator. Apex Predators are considered by environmental scientists to be critical to any healthy eco-system. Environmentalists claim that they can gauge the overall health of the wilderness by how healthy the predators are. Environmentalists also claim that with the wolf back in the GYE, a critical missing component of the eco-system has been restored, and we are already beginning to see the impact of having Yellowstone's 'top dog' back in its natural habitat, and that the park and surrounding areas have become much healthier as a result.
Arguments against the re-introduction of wolves to the GYE have raged for years. Ranchers and others in the area have concerns about wolves, such as wolves that kill cattle, sheep and other domesticated animals. Many groups have called for greater control over wolves and aim to see the wolf eradicated again from the area.
“Removing recovered wolf populations from Wyoming and the Great Lakes Region will reduce risks to both people and wildlife in these areas and return balance to these ecosystems, further advancing our goal to delist all recovered gray wolf populations ,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist.
Environmentalist scientists are concerned over the decision to delist wolves because the wolves’ numbers, genetic diversity and geographic spread have not increased enough to ensure their long-term survival.
“It is downright reckless to lower the goalposts in mid-game when what is at stake is the successful restoration of wolves to the Northern Rockies,” said David Gaillard of the Predator Conservation Alliance.
Yet those who oppose wolf recovery claim that the wolves have recovered and it is now time to keep their numbers in check.
“This is a states’ rights issue now and it is time for the states to manage wolves as other wildlife,” said David Allen, President and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. “Science clearly shows that gray wolves have recovered”.
With the delisting of the gray wolf in the Rocky Mountain area, hunting of wolves will begin in most Rocky Mountain states this fall.
