Environmental Defense Hails Victory For Yellowstone Wolves
Environmental Defense hailed today’s federal court decision allowing reintroduced wolves to remain in Yellowstone National Park and nearby environs. Today’s decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver reversed a 1997 trial court decision that had ordered the removal of the wolves. That order was held in abeyance pending an appeal. Today’s decision makes clear that the wolves were lawfully introduced and can remain.
“The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone was the greatest conservation success story of the past decade,” said Environmental Defense wildlife attorney Michael J. Bean, who filed a “friend of the court” brief urging the very result reached today. “Wolves have regained their place in Yellowstone more quickly, at less expense, and with fewer conflicts with livestock than even the most optimistic forecasts when this process began.”
The narrow legal issue that had imperiled the reintroduction effort was whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had acted lawfully in establishing “experimental populations” of wolves in Yellowstone and in Central Idaho, where there were scattered reports that a few, naturally occurring wolves already occurred. The American Farm Bureau Federation and several of its state affiliates argued that the presence of these few naturally occurring wolves meant that the government could not introduce other wolves there and treat them as an experimental population. The Court of Appeals today rejected that argument and upheld the government’s action.
One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund
Latest press releases
-
Navajo Nation takes significant action to cut methane, assert tribal sovereignty
September 19, 2024 -
Houston-area High School Students Selected as Winners in Environmental Defense Fund Video Contest
September 16, 2024 -
New Bill Would Help Congress Better Understand Legislation’s Climate Impacts
September 12, 2024 -
Hydrogen Blending in New York Gas Pipelines Undermines State Climate Goals
September 12, 2024 -
EDF files requests that the NC Utilities Commission reject Duke Energy’s current Carbon Plan and order rapid action to bring offshore wind online
September 10, 2024 -
New Water Institute Will Support Youth Leadership on Key Climate Challenges Affecting Borderland Communities
September 6, 2024