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U.S. NEWS Friday 30 OctOber 2020
Trump officials end gray wolf protections across most of U.S.

By MATTHEW BROWN, JOHN The decision keeps protec-
FLESHER and JIM MONE tions for a small population
Associated Press of Mexican gray wolves in
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) the Southwest. It's the latest
— Trump administration of- attempt over two decades
ficials on Thursday stripped to return management au-
Endangered Species Act thority to the states. Courts
protections for gray wolves have frequently rejected
in most of the U.S., ending such moves after oppo-
longstanding federal safe- nents filed lawsuits.
guards and putting states Environmental groups
and tribes in charge of pledged to return to court
overseeing the predators. yet again. They said pro-
The U.S. Department of In- tections are still needed
terior announcement just to shield small populations
days ahead of the Nov. 3 of wolves in West Coast
election could lead to re- states, including California,
sumption of wolf hunts in and to help them expand
Michigan, Minnesota and to new areas.
Wisconsin -- a crucial bat- This June 29, 2017, file remote camera image provided by the U.S. Forest Service shows a female "Instead of pursuing further
tleground in the campaign gray wolf and two of the three pups born in 2017 in the wilds of Lassen National Forest in Northern wolf recovery, the Fish and
between President Don- California. Wildlife Service has just ad-
ald Trump and former Vice Associated Press opted the broadest, most
President Joe Biden. every place they once in- on" to help other imperiled previously when federal destructive delisting rule
It's the latest in a series of habited to be considered wildlife. But he questioned controls were lifted, said yet," said Collette Adkins
administration actions on recovered. the announcement com- Adrian Treves, a professor with the Center for Biologi-
the environment that ap- In an announcement at- ing so close to the election. of environmental studies at cal Diversity.
peal to key blocs of rural tended by several dozen "It creates the perception the University of Wisconsin. An initiative on the Colora-
voters in the race's final people at a national wild- that it's being done for po- Hunting seasons took their do ballot next week seeks
days, including steps to al- life refuge overlooking the litical reasons," Ashe said in toll and research showed to reintroduce wolves there
low more mining in Minne- Minnesota River in a rural an interview. that poachers were em- in coming years. With fed-
sota and logging in Alaska. area outside Minneapolis, Some biologists and former boldened by the absence eral protections removed,
Both feared and revered Interior Secretary David Ber- government officials who of federal enforcement, he the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
by people, gray wolves nhardt declared the gray previously reviewed the said. Service would have no say
have recovered from near wolf's recovery "a milestone administration's proposal "The science is 100 percent about moving ahead with
extinction in parts of the of success." for lifting protections said clear that there will be a the plan, if voters approve
country but remain absent "In the early part of the it lacked scientific justifica- spike in mortality," he said. it. Wolves were wiped out
from much of their histori- 20th century the gray wolf tion. And wildlife advocates Farmers and hunters wel- across most of the U.S. by
cal range. Federal wildlife had essentially become a worry the move will make it comed the news. the 1930s under govern-
officials contend thriving ghost throughout the Unit- harder, if not impossible, for Ashleigh Calaway of Pitts- ment-sponsored poisoning
populations in the west- ed States," Bernhardt said. wolves to recover in more ville, Wisconsin said 13 of her and trapping campaigns.
ern Great Lakes region, "That is not the case today." regions, such as the south- family farm's sheep were A remnant population in
Rocky Mountains and Pa- Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife ern Rocky Mountains and killed by wolves in July of the western Great Lakes
cific Northwest ensure the Service director Dan Ashe portions of the Northeast. 2019. Reducing wolf num- region has since expanded
species' long-term survival. agreed that wolves were Their numbers also are sure bers through state-spon- to some 4,400 animals in
They argue it's not neces- recovered and said it's time to drop in the western Great sored hunts would help pre- Michigan, Minnesota and
sary for wolves to be in for the agency to "move Lakes area, as happened vent such attacks, she said. Wisconsin. q
Court won't back gun ban outside Michigan polling places

By ED WHITE committing a felony under on Oct. 8 said they broke up
Associated Press existing law," the court said. a scheme by anti-govern-
DETROIT (AP) — The Michi- The three-judge panel in- ment paramilitary groups
gan appeals court on cluded Brock Swartzle, who to kidnap Gov. Gretchen
Thursday rejected an ap- is a candidate for the state Whitmer. But some county
peal from a Democratic Supreme Court. sheriffs said they wouldn't
state official who wants to The order came two days enforce the order, and the
ban the open carry of guns after a judge said Secre- Michigan Association of
outside polling places. tary of State Jocelyn Ben- Chiefs of Police also had
The court, in a 3-0 order, son had exceeded her panned it. Attorney Gen-
declined to hear the case authority in prohibiting the eral Dana Nessel, a Demo-
but noted that it's already open carry of guns within crat, said she'll now ask the
illegal to intimidate vot- 100 feet of a polling place. Supreme Court to take the
ers or aggressively wave Court of Claims Judge case. Attorneys defending In this Sept. 24, 2020, file photo, Michigan Secretary of State
a gun in public. "Anyone Christopher Murray said the Benson said the secretary Jocelyn Benson speaks in Detroit. Associated Press
who intimidates a voter in policy didn't go through a of state has discretion to
Michigan by brandishing a formal rule-making process set certain rules related to one with a gun near a poll- that same presence instills
firearm or, for that matter, required under Michigan elections. They quoted vot- ing place. Some don't trust discomfort and even fear in
by threatening with a knife, law. Benson, the state's ers as saying they would be the absentee ballot option. others," Assistant Attorney
baseball bat, fist, or other- chief election officer, act- discouraged from casting "While the presence of fire- General Ann Sherman said
wise menacing behavior, is ed after federal authorities a ballot if they saw some- arms might comfort some, in a court filing.q