Scientists from Oregon Fish and Wildlife have recommended the removal of wolves from the state's list of endangered species.
Oregon's biologists are recommending for gray wolves to be eliminated from the state's list of Endangered Species when the department will vote next month, saying in a statement that it is just right to do so. The commission is due to vote on their recommendation on Nov. 9.
If the vote pushes through, then gray wolves will no longer be under the protection of endangered species laws of either the state or federal government.
"The information that we have about wolves, which is all hard data, we believe justifies a delisting," Spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy said.
State biologist found that the wolves occupied a large, stable geographic area and that their populations are expected to increase steadily over the years, minimizing the risk of driving them to extinction.
Despite having the support of hard data, wildlife activists are dismayed by the news, saying that it was still far too early for the state to consider this course of action.
The state said that removing gray wolves from the endangered species list will not immediately remove the protections from these animals but wildlife advocates and some scientists are still questioning the process for recommending the delisting and whether the wolves should really be delisted.
Some scientists even believe that delisting the wolves could reverse the progress made in the state's efforts to revive the gray wolf population in the area.
Steve Pedery, director of the Oregon Wild Conservation group, pointed this out while adding that the public is still calling for the government to continue providing state and federal protection for these wolves.
"Conservation groups and [thousands of Oregon state residents believe] that delisting ... Oregon's tiny wolf population is premature and that wolves still face threats ... in significant portions," Pedery said.
Once native to Oregon, gray wolves have been eliminated from the state during the early 20th century after an eradication campaign but last 2008, sightings of the endangered wolves have been spotted in the state's forests and have since spread to other parts of Oregon. As of now, scientists found that there are 15 packs of gray wolves in the state and about 80 wolves.
