Based on their arguments for large minimum viable populations in a host of other species, the northern spotted owl being the best known example, it is difficult to believe that environmental groups have not voiced similar concerns over wolf recovery goals in the West. This leads me to suspect that the 100 wolf recovery figures are little more than an elaborate game orchestrated by the federal government. The government proposed 100 wolves knowing that would not be enough to meet requirements of minimum viable population size, and environmental groups did not object knowing that 100 wolves would raise less political opposition than 1500 wolves. Wolves arrive and increase to 100. The government move to delist.
Environmentalists sue and win.
The wolf population is allowed to reach 1500 or more. Environmentalists are happy, the federal agencies are happy, and the public, only too late realizes what has happened. Since wolf populations can increase at 100 percent or more each year, and since wolves are known to disperse up to 200 miles or more, wolves will quickly repopulate the entire West. It must be remembered that the wolf is lested as an endangered species in all the western states and plans are now underway for wolf recovery in Utah and Colorado. Washington State may already have more wolves than Montana, the only real question regarding wolf recovery is when will wolves reach Mexico.