More Conservationists Cry Wolf

A second conservation group Saturday promised to appeal a federal judge’s finding that the federal wolf reintroduction program in the northern Rocky Mountains is illegal.

The National Wildlife Federation said the ruling by U.S. District Judge William Downes of Casper is flawed. Downes found the program does not give wolves the protection due them under federal law.

“We will not stand by and watch this country make the same mistake twice,” said National Wildlife Federation President Mark Van Putten. “It took decades to undo the mistake of exterminating wolves in the first place. We won’t let a bad interpretation of the law take them away again.”

Shortly after Downes issued his decision Friday, Defenders of Wildlife promised to appeal it.

Downes ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove all wolves it moved to Idaho and Yellowstone National Park since the program began in early 1995, but he put the order on hold pending an appeal expected from the government.