Vote nears on ending 'endangered' status for WA wolves

The Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission will decide next month on lowering gray wolves’ status under the state’s endangered species law.

Environmentalists and others say this would lead to inadequate protection for the animals when they still haven’t recovered in parts of the state. State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials and others contend that not much would change in terms of how the animals are shielded from hunting and argue the move makes sense because wolf numbers have strongly rebounded.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s recommendation is to downlist wolves from “endangered” to “sensitive.”

In a Saturday meeting, wildlife commissioners had many questions about what that would mean for the species and appeared split on how to proceed.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/06/24/vote-nears-on-ending-endangered-status-for-wa-wolves/