Although separate, two appeals presented to a three-judge panel in Missoula, Mont., have a common theme. In both cases, the U.S. government contends gray wolves no longer need the protection of the Endangered Species Act. Meanwhile, wolf advocates argue ESA protection should be extended to more wolves.

In one appeal, a District Court judge in Montana sided with wolf advocates and ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider expanding federal protection to wolves in the Northern Rockies, which includes Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington.

In the other case, a judge in California ordered the service to restore federal protection to wolves in Western Washington, Western Oregon and California.

Assistant U.S. attorney Emily Polachek said the rulings didn’t change the wildlife service’s judgment that gray wolves in the Lower 48 are not endangered and should be managed by states.

“I think both of these district court judges took it upon themselves to become wildlife biologists,” she said.

Aw, I'm sorry, don't like the science, Emily?

Jimbo James

chonk