Government Set to Relax Protections Granted Gray Wolves Under the Endangered Species Act

After years of litigation, the federal government is ready to remove some of the protections granted to gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act.

Facing mounting pressure from lawmakers over gray wolves, wildlife advocates reached an agreement with the Obama administration Friday to lift protections for the species in Montana and Idaho and allow hunting.

With Congress now threatening to intervene, the 10 national and local groups involved in Friday's settlement said they wanted to head off what they regard as precedent-setting legislation. They fear pending bills to delist wolves would broadly undermine the Endangered Species Act, with ramifications for imperiled fish, animals and plants nationwide.

I don't think this is a stretch to say that there are implications in this development for the Bakken and the EPA with regard to fracking.

By the way, some legislators in Montana feel the state's department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks department is stifling economic development.

Some lawmakers in the Capitol are making it clear they think the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks department wields too much power around Montana.


They have sponsored bills seeking to rein in the department by reducing its spending, jurisdiction and authority.