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Late Tuesday, September 8, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of the U.S. District Court in Missoula denied a preliminary injunction that would have returned the wolf to federal endangered species protection.
"We're pleased that the judge recognized Idaho's ability to manage wolves in a way that ensures their continued existence," Idaho Fish and Game Director Cal Groen said. "We intend to demonstrate that the Fish and Game will responsibly manage wolves like the other 10 big game species."
Idaho will continue to manage wolves according to its approved wolf population management plan.
The injunction was sought by parties to a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to remove gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains from the endangered species list earlier this year.
"We will now have an opportunity to demonstrate to the court that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to delist complies with the Endangered Species Act," Deputy Attorney General Clive Strong said.
Idaho's wolf hunt will continue as planned. It opened in the Lolo and Sawtooth wolf zones Tuesday, September 1. It opens September 15 in the Selway and Middle Fork zones, and October 1 in the rest of the state.
The order is available here: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/wolves/.
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