Grey Wolves Delisted from Endangered Species Act

The endangered gray wolf (canis lupus). Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

UTAH — This week, the Utah Department of Natural Resources applauded the Federal Government’s decision  to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Why is this a good thing? According to a statement by the Utah Department of Natural Resources, “States are often best positioned to appropriately manage wildlife populations. With the number of wolves growing across the West, we believe it is time to allow the states to take the helm. Utah has shown great success in growing and maintaining wildlife populations statewide, and we anticipate similar success in managing wolf populations.”

No one knows their land and their plants and animals better than those who live in that particular state. Utah’s DNR has a statewide management plan in place “to manage, study, and conserve wolves moving into Utah while avoiding conflicts with the wildlife management objectives of the Ute Indian Tribe; preventing livestock depredation; and protecting the investment made in wildlife in Utah.”