Groups sue to restore endangered species protection for US northern Rockies wolves

Associated Press

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Six conservation groups have filed a lawsuit challenging a recent U.S. government decision not to protect wolves in northern Rocky Mountain states as an endangered species. The groups argue in the federal lawsuit filed July 2 in Montana that those states are exercising too much leeway to keep the predators’ numbers to a minimum. The lawsuit follows a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision in February to reject conservationists’ requests to restore endangered species protections across the region. The federal agency found wolves aren’t in danger of extinction but the groups suing the agency say that state policies including hunting remain threats.