© 2024 Wyoming Public Media
800-729-5897 | 307-766-4240
Wyoming Public Media is a service of the University of Wyoming
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Transmission & Streaming Disruptions

Appeals Court Debates Wyoming's Wolf Management

Mike Cline, Public Domain

Back in 2012, wolves were removed from the federal Endangered Species List and the state was briefly allowed to manage the population. But wildlife advocates sued and, two years later, the species was relistedbecause Wyoming’s management plandidn’t include a legal requirement that the state would maintain a buffer of over 100 wolves in areas outside Yellowstone National Park. 

Then, last week, a federal appeals court heard arguments on both sides for why Wyoming can or can't be trusted to protect that number of wolves without such a legal requirement in place.

Brett Hartl is with the Center for Biological Diversity, a plaintiff in the case. 

“You know, the judges didn’t seem very receptive to that because the Endangered Species Act isn’t designed to have states just say, trust us, things will be okay,” Hartl said.

Wyoming Game and Fish spokesman Renny MacKay said that, whatever decision the court makes, the state is capable of picking up where it left off.

“We stand ready to manage wolves again,” MacKay said. “And we do feel like our track record showed that we can and are absolutely committed to maintaining a recovered population that has genetic diversity and is in the best interest of wolves.”

A decision from the federal appeals court on Wyoming’s wolf plan could come as early as the end of the year.

Melodie Edwards is the host and producer of WPM's award-winning podcast The Modern West. Her Ghost Town(ing) series looks at rural despair and resilience through the lens of her hometown of Walden, Colorado. She has been a radio reporter at WPM since 2013, covering topics from wildlife to Native American issues to agriculture.
Related Content