U.S. Judge Rules Wolf Reintroduction Program Illegal
12/12/97
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Headline: U.S. Judge Rules Wolf Reintroduction Program Illegal
Source: Reuters
Date: 12/12/97
Byline: Jason Marsden
Copyright 1997 by Reuters
CASPER, Wyo. (Reuters) - A federal judge Friday ruled a
controversial program to reintroduce wolves to the Rocky
Mountain region was illegal, but he immediately put his own
ruling on hold so the transplanted wolves and their offspring
would not have to be rounded up right away.
U.S. District Court Judge William Downes said that, under
the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the government was wrong to
have experimentally introduced the wolves to an area where the
animal was already found three years ago.
The case was brought by ranchers who were appealing the
original decision by U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to
proceed with the reintroduction program at Yellowstone National
Park and in central Idaho.
While wolves had not been seen in the area for dozens of
years before the program was started, some had been migrating
from Canada into Montana and Wyoming in the past few years.
``Mindful of the decision, talent and money which have been
expended in the development and implementation of the wolf
recovery program the court reaches its decision with the utmost
reluctance,'' Downes wrote in his opinion.
``The fact that the program has been responsibly
implemented, however, cannot obviate the limitations Congress
has imposed,'' he said.
But the decision will not immediately affect the wolves, who
were brought in from Canada, or their young because the judge
issued a stay of his own order. He anticipated an appeal by the
federal government to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in
Denver.
Ed Bangs who coordinates the wolf program for the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service said he expected the Department of Interior
to appeal the judge's decision.
Gray wolves arrived at Yellowstone from Canada on Jan. 12,
1995 amid much fanfare and controversy. The wolves had not been
seen in the area for more than 60 years and it was two months
before they even ventured outside their acclimation pens in the
park.
But ranchers, fearing the predator species would attack
livestock, went to court to stop the program. Friday's decision
was a ruling on their case.
In Washington, the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife
said it would challenge the ruling, calling the judgment
''ludicrous''.
``We will go to court to challenge this decision. It is a
tragedy even to discuss dismantling the greatest wildlife
restoration effort in our nation's history,'' president Rodger
Schlickeisen said in a written statement.
``Can you imagine trying to remove dozens of wolves spread
out over millions of acres? The idea is ludicrous and the
American people won't stand for it,'' he said.
Supporters of the program point to its popularity with
tourists and the success the wolves have had in procreating.
Yellowstone this year celebrated its 125th anniversary.
While the wolves are not visible like the bison or elk, visitors
to the park are keen to know how they are doing and pepper park
rangers with questions about the shy, elusive animal.