Obama and Salazar Uphold Bush Decision to Remove Wolves in Western States from Endangered List

Guess I am a bit disappointed. Citing wolves' comeback in several Western states and around the Great Lakes area, Obama's Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Friday kept in place the Bush Administration's recent removal of wolves from the list of endangered species.

I had posted earlier how I was suspicious of Bush's last minute decision on this before he left office in January. Obama said this would be reviewed, and so it was, but I guess I was hoping for an outcome more in favor of the wolves. As I said, I know a balance must be struck between humans and wildlife, but I think wildlife often gets shafted.

The federal government is also turning over management of the wolf populations to each state. But I question this move. I know the country is in financial straits, but I fear the states might cut corners--and once again, the wolves suffer.

Obama said the wolves' resurgence was a great "success story" of the Endangered Species Act, and he does have a point. Wolves will remain on the endangered list in Wyoming, the Southwest and several other states.

Environmental groups are, naturally, not so happy about Salazar's decision, including SaveWolves.org.

Obama and Salazar Uphold Bush Decision to Remove Wolves in Western States from Endangered List

Guess I am a bit disappointed. Citing wolves' comeback in several Western states and around the Great Lakes area, Obama's Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Friday kept in place the Bush Administration's recent removal of wolves from the list of endangered species.

I had posted earlier how I was suspicious of Bush's last minute decision on this before he left office in January. Obama said this would be reviewed, and so it was, but I guess I was hoping for an outcome more in favor of the wolves. As I said, I know a balance must be struck between humans and wildlife, but I think wildlife often gets shafted.

The federal government is also turning over management of the wolf populations to each state. But I question this move. I know the country is in financial straits, but I fear the states might cut corners--and once again, the wolves suffer.

Obama said the wolves' resurgence was a great "success story" of the Endangered Species Act, and he does have a point. Wolves will remain on the endangered list in Wyoming, the Southwest and several other states.

Environmental groups are, naturally, not so happy about Salazar's decision, including SaveWolves.org.

Gray Wolves Still in Danger?

Now that Obama is in office, one of the arguably more minor decisions he'll have to make is whether to reverse the Bush Administration's recent removal of gray wolves from the endangered species list in a handful of Western states. Some groups claim the wolves have not recovered sufficiently in these areas, and that the timing of the removal--roughly just a week before Bush left office--was a gift to conservative advocacy groups who see the wolf as a threat to area ranchers, fearing a sudden rash of wolf killings now that the ban has been lifted.

When asked about the controversy last week, Obama spokesman Nick Shapiro said "the president-elect will review all 11th-hour regulations and will address them once he is president."

I'm torn. I'd like to celebrate the fact that certain wolf populations are no longer on the brink of extinction, if that is in fact true, and yet I'm also aware of the frustration greater numbers of wolves can cause ranchers and farmers. Of course, I don't really trust much the Bush administration did. I do, however, think Obama's team will be more pragmatic about this.

Either way, we need to be more creative in learning to live with our animal cousins.

Gray Wolves Still in Danger?

Now that Obama is in office, one of the arguably more minor decisions he'll have to make is whether to reverse the Bush Administration's recent removal of gray wolves from the endangered species list in a handful of Western states. Some groups claim the wolves have not recovered sufficiently in these areas, and that the timing of the removal--roughly just a week before Bush left office--was a gift to conservative advocacy groups who see the wolf as a threat to area ranchers, fearing a sudden rash of wolf killings now that the ban has been lifted.

When asked about the controversy last week, Obama spokesman Nick Shapiro said "the president-elect will review all 11th-hour regulations and will address them once he is president."

I'm torn. I'd like to celebrate the fact that certain wolf populations are no longer on the brink of extinction, if that is in fact true, and yet I'm also aware of the frustration greater numbers of wolves can cause ranchers and farmers. Of course, I don't really trust much the Bush administration did. I do, however, think Obama's team will be more pragmatic about this.

Either way, we need to be more creative in learning to live with our animal cousins.