BigHornRam
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Court ruling against federal agency requires wolverine study
Posted on Oct. 2
By the Associated Press
MISSOULA - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must review wolverines' status and determine whether the animal should be protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, a judge has ruled.
U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula ruled in favor of groups that challenged the service's rejection of a petition to list the wolverine under the species law. In a 2005 lawsuit, the groups said the wolverine, a weasel, is harmed by habitat disruption throughout its range and is at risk from trapping in Montana.
In the decision last week, Molloy said the service erred in rejecting scientific information about the wolverine, information that showed loss of range, population decline and risk from human encroachment.
Molloy issued the decision in the case filed by Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Clearwater, Conservation Northwest and the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center.
The wolverine is a forest dweller 3- to 4-feet long.
In their lawsuit, the groups said U.S. wolverines outside of Alaska are known to exist only in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, although occasional, unconfirmed sightings have been reported elsewhere. The present range is a fraction of wolverines' historic range, the groups said.
Six years ago, environmental groups petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect wolverines through the Endangered Species Act. The first step in that process was a full scientific review of wolverines' status, which the service declined to conduct.
Posted on Oct. 2
By the Associated Press
MISSOULA - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must review wolverines' status and determine whether the animal should be protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, a judge has ruled.
U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula ruled in favor of groups that challenged the service's rejection of a petition to list the wolverine under the species law. In a 2005 lawsuit, the groups said the wolverine, a weasel, is harmed by habitat disruption throughout its range and is at risk from trapping in Montana.
In the decision last week, Molloy said the service erred in rejecting scientific information about the wolverine, information that showed loss of range, population decline and risk from human encroachment.
Molloy issued the decision in the case filed by Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Clearwater, Conservation Northwest and the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center.
The wolverine is a forest dweller 3- to 4-feet long.
In their lawsuit, the groups said U.S. wolverines outside of Alaska are known to exist only in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, although occasional, unconfirmed sightings have been reported elsewhere. The present range is a fraction of wolverines' historic range, the groups said.
Six years ago, environmental groups petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect wolverines through the Endangered Species Act. The first step in that process was a full scientific review of wolverines' status, which the service declined to conduct.
