"A federal appeals court finds that Congress acted legally when it ordered a federal agency to remove Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves from the endangered species list."
"A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that Congress acted legally when it eliminated Endangered Species Act protections for the Northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves and opened the door to wolf hunts.
The opinion, by a Democrat-appointed panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, found that when Congress last year ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove protection for that distinct wolf population, lawmakers were amending the law and not violating the separation of powers doctrine.
The decision means wolves in the Northern Rockies will continue to be managed by states in the region, which had an estimated 1,774 wolves in 287 packs as of the end of last year. Animals outside of that area, including the lone male that has been prowling back and forth over the California-Oregon border, remain protected."
Bettina Boxall reports for the Los Angeles Times March 14, 2012.
SEE ALSO:
"Wisconsin Assembly Approves Wolf Hunting" (Green/NYT)
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