Delisting of Recovered Wolf Populations Moves Forward in U.S. House

The National Rifle Association and a coalition of sportsmen’s groups sent a letter to Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, and committee member Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) concerning the delisting of recovered wolf populations from the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  The letter supports efforts in advancing Section 119 of the 2012 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill, which was approved yesterday by the House Appropriations Committee.

The section would eliminate the possibility of judicial review of any Department of the Interior decision to delist recovered wolf populations in Wyoming or in the Western Great Lakes region from the ESA if the relevant state enters an agreement with the Secretary of the Interior that authorizes the state to manage wolves.  This will help prevent anti-hunting extremists from continuing to abuse the judicial system in order to further their emotion-driven agenda.

“Delisting recovered wolf populations in Wyoming and the Great Lakes Region would restore scientific wildlife management and balance to these ecosystems,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist.  “Hunters are the true conservationists and wolves simply need to be managed through regulated hunting like so many other species.  Americans understand that scientists, not judges, should make these critical wildlife management decisions and this is what Section 119 ensures.”