SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — Federal wildlife officials rejected requests from conservation groups to restore protections for gray wolves across the northern U.S. Rocky Mountains on Friday.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the predators are not in danger of extinction.
Additionally, USFWS said it would work on a first-ever national recovery plan for the wolves, “recognizing that the national discussion around gray wolf management must look more comprehensively at conservation tools available,” the release states.
Gray wolves are listed under the Endangered Species Act as endangered in 44 states, threatened in Minnesota, and under state jurisdiction in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of eastern Oregon and Washington, USFWS said.
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Based on the latest data as of the end of 2022, USFWS said there were approximately 2,797 wolves distributed across at least 286 packs in seven states in the Western U.S.
“This population size and widespread distribution contribute to the resiliency and redundancy of wolves in this region,” the release states. “The population maintains high genetic diversity and connectivity, further supporting their ability to adapt to future changes.”