Minnesota wolves considered for delisting

The Midwestern wolf population has reached the recovery goals set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1978 INTERACTIVE: Should Minnesota take the gray wolf off the endangered species list? Yes No View Results

March 1, 1999
Web posted at: 12:09 p.m. EST (1809 GMT)

The state of Minnesota has released a draft management plan for gray wolves that could lead to the delisting of the species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Feb. 25.

The federal agency said that it will review the plan to ensure that it allows for the sustained recovery of gray wolf populations in the Midwest. After a lengthy public comment period on the plan, the wolves could be delisted.

The Midwestern wolf population has reached the recovery goals set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1978.

"The Minnesota plan represents one of the final chapters in a tremendous gray wolf success story, both here and across the nation," said Bill Hartwig, regional director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. "Now we need to ensure the populations stay healthy and that these wolves never need the assistance of the Endangered Species Act again."

When gray wolves were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1974, Minnesota hosted one of the only remaining populations of the animals in the lower 48 states. Since then, the federal wildlife agency has considered the effective management of gray wolves in Minnesota a critical component in its national gray wolf recovery effort.

The 1978 recovery plan, which was modified in 1992, called for delisting throughout the wolves' eastern range once the Minnesota population stabilized and a second population, outside of Minnesota, of at least 100 wolves became established within 100 miles, or at least 200 wolves if farther than 100 miles.

These population levels had to be maintained for at least five consecutive years. Based on the population figures released by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Feb. 25, and population information from Wisconsin and Michigan, it appears likely the goals will be met this spring.

"I am assured that the major concerns of wolf management have been addressed and that a process has been established to make sure concerns continue to be addressed in the future," said Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Al Garber in a statement on the management plan.

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