Cody, Wyoming. --- The Ninth Circuit Court released its opinion on Alliance for Wild Rockies v. Salazar earlier this month regarding wolf litigation, removing gray wolves from the endangered species list.

Attorneys representing the Wild Sheep Foundation and other conservation partners presented arguments supporting Congressional action that wolf populations should be managed by the states.

“Sound conservation management practices following science-based research, implemented by state wildlife agencies and their trained professionals, is a sound, practical, and biologically-defensible approach to managing wolves,” stated Gray N. Thornton, WSF President and CEO. “We are pleased with this ruling, and WSF will continue to fight wolf lawsuits and support delisting legislation where wolves have been recovered,” added Thornton. “WSF anticipates continued appeals by pro-wolf interests, but WSF will stand firm with our conservation partners, to ensure wolves are managed scientifically by wildlife professionals, not by jurors,” concluded Thornton.

Until recently, Wyoming was one of several states where wolves were protected under federal endangered species status. With Wyoming Governor Matt Mead recently signing legislation ratifying an agreement between Wyoming and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the state’s roughly 230 wolves outside of Yellowstone National Park from the endangered species list, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and Department will assume primary management responsibilities for gray wolves in the state.

Throughout the lower 48 states, wolves are listed as endangered except in Montana, Idaho and portions of Oregon, Washington and Utah, where they have been delisted through Congressional action.  Wolves in Minnesota are listed as threatened; wolves in Alaska are not listed on the ESA.  

WSF advocates for science-based, responsible and sustainable management of all natural resources, and recognizes state wildlife agency professionals as those most capable of ensuring healthy and sustainable wildlife populations.

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The Wild Sheep Foundation, formerly the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS,) was founded in 1977 by wild sheep conservationists and enthusiasts. With a membership of more than 8,000 worldwide and a chapter network in North America, WSF is the premier advocate for wild sheep, wild goats, other mountain wildlife, and their habitat. Since forming in 1977, the Wild Sheep Foundation and its chapters and affiliates have raised and expended more than $85 million on conservation, education and conservation advocacy programs in North America, Europe and Asia. These and other efforts have resulted in a five-fold increase in bighorn sheep populations in North America from their historic 1950-70s lows.

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