Still, the gray wolf has been returned to less than 4 percent of its historical range in the lower 48 states. The petition by Defenders of Wildlife notes that the ESA requires the federal government to work for the recovery of distinct population segments of an endangered species throughout its historical range, where appropriate habitat remains. Habitat surveys have confirmed that the Southern Rockies is an ideal place for wolves, with large numbers and variety of wild prey species and substantial expanses of remote public land. The current proposal by the FWS, however, would combine the Southern and Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest into one wolf population segment without expanding the numerical recovery goals beyond those in the northern region alone. Without a separate DPS designation for the Southern Rockies, it is highly unlikely that wolves could ever re-establish there, in part because of the distances involved and because Colorado still offers a bounty for wolves.
Wolves belong in the Southern Rockies.
Wherever they have returned, wolves in the U.S. have demonstrated tremendous biological and even economic value. We can return them to the Southern Rockies in a way that makes sense for the wolves, for the ecosystem, and for all of the people involved. But none of this will happen without the federal government stepping up to its leading role. The FWS should develop a comprehensive recovery plan for this region and follow it up with whatever steps are deemed necessary to encourage the restoration of this species. Defenders is willing to continue to support the FWS in this process and will continue our long tradition of wolf education and advocacy as well as payment of livestock depredation claims arising from wolves.