Northern Rockies Gray Wolf- Delisting Challenge

Defenders of Wildlife v. Hall


Case Background:


On February 21, 2008 the Fish and Wildlife Service announced its decision to delist the northern Rockies gray wolf as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Defenders considers this decision to be premature and it threatens to undermine the work over the last 35 years to reintroduce and recover the wolf in the northern Rockies.

The decision strips the wolves of the vital protections that they require as a genetically isolated population in the greater Yellowstone region and leaves the population in the hands of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. These state management plans, particularly those of Idaho and Wyoming, do not demonstrate sufficient commitment to wolf conservation and could authorize dramatic reductions in wolf populations in the region. The states assumed control over the wolves beginning March 28, 2008. On the day the final rule appeared in the Federal Register, Defenders and other conservation groups notified the Fish and Wildlife Service of their intent to challenge the decision in federal court.

This decision follows an earlier decision issued on January 24, 2008 that the FWS issued to update the 10(j) regulation for gray wolf management, over which Defenders is also litigating. (See Northern Rockies Gray Wolf: Management Challenge)

Since the delisting, actions taken by the states of Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and individuals have exemplified the need to reinstate federal safeguards for the wolves in the region. As a result, on April 28, 2008, Defenders and a coalition of conservation groups filed a motion for preliminary injunction in federal court to restore federal protections for the gray wolf in the northern Rockies under the Endangered Species Act.

Related documents:

Press Release: District Judge reverses gray wolf delisting throughout Northern Rockies
Motion for Preliminary Injunction (4/28/2008)
Press Release: Twelve Conservation Groups Challenge Federal Wolf Delisting
60 Day notice letter 
Press Release: Wolves Lose Protection Under Endangered Species Act
Press Release: Eleven Conservation Groups Challenge Federal Wolf Delisting
Notice from Federal Register

Status:


Victory

Co-filers:


Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, The Humane Society of the United States, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Friends of the Clearwater, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands Project, Western Watersheds Project, Wildlands Project

Updates:

09/17/2008
In the wake of a federal court victory this summer in Defenders of Wildlife v. Hall temporarily reinstating endangered protections for the Northern Rockies wolves, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS) has decided to rescind its own wolf delisting rule. The agency asked the court to remand the issue to the FWS so it can reconsider its delisting decision and the court agreed. That means that Northern Rockies wolves once again enjoy full federal protections. Press Release.

07/18/2008
Judge Donald Molloy of the U.S. District Court in Missoula granted a preliminary injunction placing gray wolves in the Northern Rockies region back under federal protection until a court case challenging the removal of wolves from the federal list of endangered species is decided. Press release

04/28/2008
Twelve conservation groups filed a federal court lawsuit challenging the federal government’s decision to remove the northern Rockies gray wolf population from the list of endangered species. Press release