In 30 days, the North American wolverine will be protected as a threatened species under federal law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday.
The federal agency will publish a notice of the final rule in the Federal Register today stating that the Endangered Species Act will protect the elusive high-mountain carnivore. Wolverines will become a threatened species, meaning it will be illegal to import, export, take (which means kill) or transport them.
The agency also will publish an “interim rule” that absolves responsibility for unintended wolverine deaths due to lawful trapping of other species, forest management and research. The public can comment on that provision for the next 60 days.
Why it matters
Although wolverine populations are difficult to assess, researchers believe they are few and far between and that their habitat is being fragmented, disrupted and altered by human activities and climate change. Without federal laws protecting the ferocious mustelid — a member of the weasel, otter and badger family that weighs between about 15 to 40 pounds — scientists believe it could go extinct across part of its range.
Wolverines are found in Wyoming and other parts of the northern Rockies, the Cascades and in Canada and Alaska. The threatened status will cover the contiguous U.S. in the hopes it will ensure long-term survival of the species. Fish and Wildlife personnel earlier this month anticipated the listing and said Wednesday that critical habitat for the species has yet to be defined.
History
Efforts to protect the wolverine under the ESA have been ongoing for years and were recently boosted by an updated biological study based on the best available science. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined the protection was needed after a judge told the agency that it should reassess earlier declarations that special laws were not necessary.
Fish and Wildlife proposed protecting the species in 2013. But in 2020, under the Trump administration, it changed course and said protection was not warranted. That led to lawsuits and a judge’s order to reconsider ESA protections.
Who said what
The federal agency is not worried that trappers in Wyoming will kill wolverines, stating that trapping is prohibited in much of the species’ range including Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Many traps used in wolverine habitat are designed for smaller marten, the agency said, citing Wyoming Game and Fish literature. Larger traps are also unlikely to affect wolverines because they are on private land, partially submerged or have devices to limit unintended killings.
Wyoming classified wolverines as protected animals under its own game laws.
“We will continue to monitor populations and document observations as we have done in the past,” Doug Brimeyer, deputy chief of Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s wildlife division, wrote in an email. “The main change will be more coordination with the Service as we look at the next rangewide survey in two years.”
Conservationists began lobbying for protection in 1994 and pointed to six rounds of litigation before the federal decision.“Like so many other species, wolverines waited far too long for federal protections,” Andrea Zaccardi, the carnivore conservation legal director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement, “but I’m overjoyed that they’re finally on the path to recovery.” Timothy Preso, an Earthjustice attorney who represented conservation groups, said the decision “gives the wolverine a fighting chance at survival.”
I guess I am one of the few lucky ones to have seen a wolverine in Wyoming. Unfortunately, the critter was dead. We discovered it on the banks of the Green River about five miles downstream from Fontenelle Reservoir in the late 1970s, and reported it to a G&F biologist in Green River. I was in high school at the time, and still vividly remember those claws. Are there any birders reading this? If so, I feel equally lucky to have seen three harlequin ducks (alive and well) on the Little Bighorn River in the northern Bighorn Mountains, north-central Wyoming (spring mid-1990s). It would be neat if someone could determine if there is an ongoing breeding population of harlequins in that part of Wyoming. The G&F estimates there are about 70 breeding pairs of this beautiful duck in northwestern Wyoming. Trivia question: most waterfowl migrate north-south. What about the harlequin?
Sure eminent domain, I am not a sheeple never have been, awake and aware, we have and are being played for fools.
Angus: as a Michigan native any protection given wolverines is necessary rare as they are. Keep informing especially any sighting. Jerry Hetrick
Another overreach by the federal government supported by the liberal lap dogs. We can’t get this worthless administration out soon enough.
Its extremely important to note that the wolverine’s prime habitat in Wyoming ( the Yellowstone ecosystem) is already designated habitat for grizzlies and wolves meaning the wolverines will simply share existing habitat that is protected by YNP, designated wilderness areas and national forest. I don’t see any significant restrictions on land use which the listing of wolverines will cause – it is more good reason to limit subdivisions and development on the state sections in Jackson Hole and the Hoback area though.
Reminder of an example: When the Prebble’s mouse recovery plans were adopted they found that the mouse’s habitat in Wyoming was not threatened but it was threatened by development in the Front range of Colorado; therefore, critical habitat was identified in Colorado which led to development restrictions – primarily subdivisions on bottom land. I suspect the wolverine recovery plans will find their habitat in Wyoming is not threatened and no drastic recovery measures are needed. Most of the wolverine’s existing habitat seems to be in Idaho and Montana so there’s a chance they will write the recovery plan along with the USFWS and Wyoming will be spared most of the expense. Wyoming Game and Fish should not incur major expenses for the upcoming wolverine recovery plans – we’ve done more than our share with the grizzly and wolf programs.
Angus/WYOFILE thank you for your example of our First Amendment and encouragement for others.
We can go to the moon and back track other species but:
“Although wolverine populations are difficult to assess, researchers believe they are few and far between and that their habitat is being fragmented, disrupted and altered by human activities and climate change. Without federal laws protecting the ferocious mustelid — a member of the weasel, otter and badger family that weighs between about 15 to 40 pounds — scientists believe it could go extinct across part of its range.”
The Alphabet departments are playing their ace card to restrict
“human activities” (soon to become areas of “non-human” zones) hopefully you or I or anyone we know “own” property will not be able to use it…
Can you imagine what that would do if “America’s Food Belt” is declared their endangered habit area? There’s going to be a compromise RED DESERT or TETON AREAS? Which section of these two areas will have a compromise? Or is there a tie breaker in the negotiating pot? Hey neighbors! The wolves were taken off their lists so here’s their ONE, TWO PUNCH! Neighbors you are GOING to COMPROMISE or there’s a possibility that NO COMPROMISE will be given and these six days are just for PACIFICATION PURPOSES so we feel like we “tried/ did our best efforts” to voice our concerns and just be PACIFIED… It’s time for I/me/you/us to look and understand is there a pattern here and what has been the outcome: OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS are slowly diminishing just look research what has happened EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI…
Maybe some of you reading this have seen and know or heard of what has happened EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI to private property ownership? Is our TRUST, HONOR, INTEGRITY and BELIEF in these Departments taking advantage of “We the people” I encourage you all my neighbors to please listen to Patrick Henry’s speech it was about Government but this time listen to it and it’s meaning as if were “these modern times”, these were the types of preaching that the”The Black Robed Regiment” would preach on and the Government ruler at that time wanted the “Black Robed Regiment” DESTROYED/EXECUTED, thank you, Semper Fi!
***** SHARED FAR AND WIDE *****
Glad to see I am not alone on seeing this Agenda for what it is, they have taken and taken and want more, those people coming over the border need our private property and homes, we are officially losing it all, sadly the traders amongst us, are profiting, and helping in these endeavors. Awake and aware
Great article!
Exactly, Mr. Democrat! They are not trapped in Wyoming! So why is this burocratic decision costing tax payers money to decide on something obvious! As stated little is know about their population. I have not seen a mouse in my house for months! Does that mean I should contact the legislature? They could be a threatened species?
It is a good thing and a long time coming. We have to take steps to save species as with human activities and climate change we are losing to many species daily.
Maybe when people lose it all, they will realize this has nothing to do with helping anyone, nor the animals. It’s about taking your home