All or portions of 30 states lie outside the four areas described above. Therefore, the Service proposes to delist, or remove from ESA protection, any wolves that may occur there now or in the future. Progress toward wolf recovery in the west has followed quickly on the heels of the Service's reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in 1995 and 1996. After wolves were eliminated from these areas in the 1920s, they now number over 250. An additional population of naturally occurring gray wolves, at least 63, live in northwestern Montana.
Participants attending the public meetings are also welcome to submit their comments at that time.
All comments must include the name of the submitter in order for us to consider them in our final decision. Comments must be received by November 10, 2000. All comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the address above and at other Service locations. Public informational meetings and formal public hearings on the proposal will be held during the comment period at locations across the range of the gray wolf. Requests for formal public hearings must be made in writing and must be received no later than August 27, 2000.