Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Conservation groups to sue feds over wolverine decision

Wolverines, described as a 30-pound ball of muscle, teeth and attitude, require vast wild areas to roam and survive. Volunteers are helping researchers document where the carnivores are active in the Inland Northwest.
Wolverines, described as a 30-pound ball of muscle, teeth and attitude, require vast wild areas to roam and survive. Volunteers are helping researchers document where the carnivores are active in the Inland Northwest.

ENDANGERED SPECIES -- A coalition of 13 conservation groups has filed notice that it will sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its decision to withdraw proposed protections for the wolverine.

The federal agency announced Tuesday it was reversing course on climate change’s threat to the survival of the members of the weasel family.

Wolverines need deep, late-season snow to den, and wildlife officials previously proposed increased protections to keep the animals from extinction.

But Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe says predictions about the localized effects of climate change are uncertain.

The 13 organizations filed their 60-day notice today.

John Mellgren of the Western Environmental Law Center says in the notice that despite the uncertainties, the best available science shows a warming climate likely will be detrimental to the wolverine.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

Follow Rich online:




Go to the full Outdoors page