Environmental Group Threatens Lawsuit To Stop Wyoming Hunters Killing Colorado Wolves

A conservationist organization has announced that it intends to take legal action in order to prevent hunters in Wyoming from killing gray wolves that have crossed over from neighboring Colorado.

The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) declared on Wednesday that it is contriving a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for its failure to take action in protecting gray wolves that make the trip from Colorado into Wyoming.

The CBD has argued that the FWS is in breach of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by not affording the wolves with sufficient protection.

The CBD’s wolf program manager, Kelly Nokes, contended that the FWS is obliged to list the wolves as endangered, and to therefore restrict the hunting of them, especially when the wolves cross state boundaries.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service is flouting the law by not recognizing that wolves from Colorado are endangered and in need of protection from Wyoming trophy hunters,” Nokes said.

Wyoming is one of only two states that permit the hunting of gray wolves without the stipulation that the animal must be listed as an endangered species. The other state is Alaska.

The FWS has defended its current stance by pointing out that the wolves are not currently listed as endangered in Colorado, and that the ESA does not protect species that are not listed as endangered.

It also claims that it has “limited resources” to monitor the movements of gray wolves and to take action when they cross state boundaries.

However, the CBD has argued that the FWS is obliged to take action to protect the wolves, regardless of the resources available to it, and that the FWS’s failure to do so is a violation of the ESA.

The CBD has declared its intention to take the FWS to court in order to prevent hunters in Wyoming from killing gray wolves that may have crossed over the border from Colorado.

The FWS has yet to comment on the CBD’s announced lawsuit.