The Gray Wolf

The Gray Wolf is one of the most common, well known animals in the animal kingdom. Their habitat includes Canada and the Northern United States, as well as Russia and some parts of Europe. 

via Wikipedia - used under Creative Commons License

So What's Happening?

via Wikipedia - Public Domain

Recently, Gray Wolves have been in the news because of their controversial status on the Endangered Species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) declared Gray Wolves endangered after they were hunted to extinction in the lower 48 states. Their current status is 'Least Concern' due to growing populations over the past few years, however many wildlife organizations are fighting to maintain its status on the list.

If Gray Wolves were to be removed from the Endangered Species list, all federal protection efforts in their favor would cease. Organizations like the Adirondack Council, Adirondack Wild, Protect the Adirondacks, Maine Wolf Coalition, and Wildlands Network are fighting to keep Gray Wolves on the list. They believe that maintaining the population of predators is vital to the balance of the ecosystem. Additionally, they assert that if the Wolf population goes unprotected, it will make it difficult for the species to migrate back to areas where it once lived.


Several U.S. Congressman have come forward in favor of maintaining Gray Wolves' endangered status. Representative Peter DeFazio has spoken on the topic, saying that based on a recent peer review, there is not enough scientific evidence to support changing the status. 

Despite the growing movement against changing the Gray Wolves' status, some people and organizations are still pushing for the change. Congressman Steve Stockman believes that wolves are anything but endangered, and that they are in fact a pest that must be controlled. He also speaks for farmers and ranchers who share the same opinion. They say that wolves are a common pest to their crops and livestock, and they are therefore in favor of any movement to control their growing population.

Overall, the overwhelming opinion is to keep Gray Wolves on the endangered list. In a recent letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, 74 members of the House of Representatives signed in favor of maintaining the wolves' status. Currently, the public comment period for the issue has been reopened. It will close this coming Thursday.



SOURCES

Don't abandon gray wolf, 74 house members urge. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140320/NEWS90/403200331/-1/NEWS

Davis, R. (n.d.). Don't remove gray wolves from endangered species protection, u.s. rep. peter defazio urges. Retrieved from http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/03/dont_remove_gray_wolves_from_e.html

Nceas report on gray wolf scientific peer review issued by us fish and wildlife service. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/news/nceas-report-gray-wolf-scientific-peer-review-issued-us-fish-and-wildlife-service

stockman backs removal of gray wolf from endangered species list, calls species ‘invasive pest’. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/stockman-backs-removal-of-gray-wolf-from-endangered-species-list/article_b64dedce-d42a-5997-a3d7-960c1fb72d36.html

Lynch, M. (n.d.). New coalition fights for gray wolves. Retrieved from http://adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/542052/New-coalition-fights-for-gray-wolves.html?nav=5008