CCA: Group wants wolf listed in California

From the California Cattlemen's Association:

Last week, CCA held a conference call to talk about the wolf in California. Since the call, several noteworthy events have taken place.

This week, an important decision was handed down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court found that Congress acted legally when it ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves from the endangered species list.

The court found that when Congress last year ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove protection for that distinct wolf population, lawmakers were amending the law and not violating the separation of powers doctrine.

The decision means wolves in the Northern Rockies will continue to be managed by states in the region, which had an estimated 1,774 wolves in 287 packs as of the end of last year. Animals outside of that area, including the lone male that has been prowling back and forth over the California-Oregon border, remain protected.

The lone OR-7 wolf, currently bouncing back between the California and Oregon border, is the target of a new effort by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) to add to the list of endangered species in California.

CBD, along with several other conservation groups have filed a petition with the Fish and Game Commission requesting that the grey wolf be listed under the California Endangered Species Act. In their press release, the need to protect the wolf as it reestablishes habitat, and the need for a “science based management plan” are emphasized.

CCA will keep a close eye on the CBD petition as it is forwarded to the Fish and Game Commission, and encourages members to stay engaged on the issue and begin to think towards management plan strategy.