160 likes | 171 Views
The USFWS proposes to remove the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife, allowing states, tribes, and federal agencies to manage them. Public engagement and scientific review are sought. Comment deadline is July 15, 2019.
E N D
USFWS Proposal to Remove the Gray Wolf from the List of Endangered & Threatened Wildlife Midwest Regional Office, USFWS Brainerd, MN Public Hearing
Endangered Species Act The goal of the Endangered Species Act is to prevent extinction Recovery is… Securing species from being in danger of extinction now or in the foreseeable future
Proposed Action • Remove the gray wolf (Canis lupus) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. • Gray wolves would no longer receive Endangered Species Act’s (ESA) protections. • Gray wolves would be managed by States, Tribes, and Federal Agencies on their lands. • Does not affect the separate listing of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi).
Timeline • Published on March 15, 2019 • Comments due July 15, 2019 • Deadline for final rule is March 15, 2020
Public Engagement & Scientific Review • Comments accepted: • Verbally at the hearing portion of this evening • Electronically via regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0097 • Hard copy via mail or hand-delivered here tonight • Summary report of peer review available via regulations.gov.
Our Approach: How We Address the Listed Gray Wolf Entities Assess the status of the two listed gray wolf entities combined (“the gray wolf entity”).
Historical Range and Current Distribution of the Gray Wolf in the US Historical range and current distribution of the gray wolf (Canis lupus). Based on Nowak (1995)—recognizing that the exact extent of historical range is uncertain, we chose Nowak (1995) as the historical range boundary in the east to encompass the largest reasonable historical distribution in the lower 48 United States. U.S. portion of range only. 4,425
Analysis under ESA From final available census years: MN data from 2016/17; WI & MI data from 2017/18
Analysis under the ESA Population status + Threat assessment + Post-delisting management Human-caused Mortality Habitat & Prey Availability Disease and Parasites Insert graph
In Conclusion • Gray wolves no longer meet the ESA definition of “threatened” or “endangered”. • Gray wolves have recovered • Proposing to delist gray wolves
Post-Delisting Monitor for at least 5 years to ensure wolves remain secure such that they do not need protection under the ESA. Post-delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf
How to Comment on the Proposal Verbally: At this public hearing Hard-copy: Delivered at this public hearing (3) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0097 (4) Hard copy by mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0097; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
Thank you https://www.fws.gov/home/wolfrecovery