Court rules that wolf delisting likely violates the Endangered Species Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2009
Contact:
Suzanne Stone: (208)424-9385, (208)861-4655
Erin McCallum: (202)772-3217; (610)207-5209
Court rules that wolf delisting likely violates the Endangered Species Act
Hunt will continue while court hears lawsuit
Summary:
• Yesterday evening, the U.S District Court of Montana agreed with plaintiffs that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service likely violated the Endangered Species Act in delisting wolves in Idaho and Montana.
• While Defenders is disappointed that the court declined to immediately halt the ongoing wolf hunt, we are optimistic that the court will ultimately overturn the wolf delisting and restore Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in the Northern Rockies.
WASHINGTON, DC. –
The following is a statement by Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife:
“A hunting season for wolves at this point in time still poses a threat to the Northern Rockies population and we’re disappointed that the court did not grant our motion to immediately stop the hunt. We’re pleased, however, that the court recognizes that we are likely to prevail on our legal claim that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acted illegally by delisting wolves in Idaho, Montana, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and portions of north-central Utah.
“We will continue to press our lawsuit challenging the delisting and are optimistic that the court will ultimately rule in our favor, restoring federal protections to Northern Rockies wolves.”
The following is a statement by Suzanne Stone, Northern Rockies representative for Defenders of Wildlife.
“We’re hopeful that the ongoing hunt is only a temporary setback on the road to accomplishing our ultimate goal: Restoring protections for wolves until a scientifically sound delisting rule that ensures a healthy regional wolf population, and adequate state plans are in place.”
Links:
Learn more about what Defenders is doing to help wolves in the Northern Rockies
Learn more about our ongoing legal actions
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Defenders of Wildlife is represented in this litigation by Earthjustice, along with plaintiffs Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, The Humane Society of the United States, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Friends of the Clearwater, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands Project, Western Watersheds Project, Wildlands Project, and Hells Canyon Preservation Council.
Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org
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