Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mail Tribune 100: Dec. 31, 1915, continued ... 'E.J.' Aguirre of Jacksonville is Rogue Valley's first arrival of 2016 ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area bans most drone use ... Mail Tribune 100: Dec. 31, 1915, continued ... 'E.J.' Aguirre of Jacksonville is Rogue Valley's first arrival of 2016 ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area bans most drone use ... OREGON WILDLIFE Environmental groups sue Oregon over wolf protections Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Dec. 30, 2015 at 4:48 PM By The Associated Press Posted Dec. 30, 2015 at 4:48 PM » Social News PORTLAND — Three environmental groups are suing Oregon wildlife officials over their decision to remove the gray wolf from the state's Endangered Species Act list. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity and two other groups say it's premature to delist the animal with only about 80 adult wolves living in the state. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission stripped wolves of their endangered status in November, after state biologists said the species won't go extinct. But some independent scientists disagree with that conclusion. According to wolf advocates, the Commission failed to follow the best available science and its population viability analysis for the wolves was flawed. "The commission's decision to delist wolves is plain political kowtowing to the livestock industry. This decision was not based in science, it was not based on Oregon's conservation values," said Noah Greenwald, Endangered Species Program director at the Center. Oregon Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy declined to comment on the lawsuit. But she said "ODFW is confident the department followed statutory and legal requirements in its process and that the Commission acted legally when it delisted wolves form the state ESA." Dennehy said the Commission's decision to delist wolves was based on their rapidly expanding range in Oregon, their growing population, the stability of their habitat and the fact that "over-utilization" of wolves isn't likely to occur. Delisting the animal doesn't mean all protections are gone, Dennehy said. A state management plan continues to tightly regulate when a wolf can be killed. But environmental groups worry that more lethal measures could be allowed in the future. An upcoming wolf plan review could also lead to changes in protections. The decision to delist wolves statewide would have the biggest impact on wolves in eastern Oregon. They were taken off the federal endangered list four years ago after Congress used a budget rider attached to a spending bill, which also removed the animal from the list in the northern Rockies, eastern Washington and parts of Utah. But the environmental groups said state protection is also needed for the western part of the state because federal officials are now proposing to strip wolves of federal protections in most of the lower 48, including in western Oregon. Research shows Oregon could support approximately 1,450 wolves. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Dec. 30, 2015 at 4:48 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501