Expert: Impending wolf suit could stick

A threat to genetic diversity and legal precedent could undermine a decision to give Wyoming control of its wolf population, a Vermont Law School professor says. As expected, on Monday environmental groups filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for lifting wolf protections and opening the way for a hunt in Wyoming. Earthjustice, which has won a Wyoming wolf lawsuit in the past, remains dissatisfied with the Wyoming plan to manage wolves as predators in 85 percent of state when federal protections end Sept. 30. Because of Wyoming’s “stubborn” commitment to the predator zone plan, the lawsuit will make a “really strong argument,” said Pat Parenteau, an attorney who specializes in Endangered Species Act law. “There are a couple things about this decision that give Earthjustice a strong hand to play,” said Parenteau, who also teaches at Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Center. “One is that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service itself made some very critical comments about the lack of genetic diversity in the population. “The second thing is this Wyoming plan is really no different than the 2003 plan that Fish and Wildlife trashed,” he said. “It’s fundamentally not that different.” The 61-page notice released by Earthjustice includes a four-point rationale for the challenge...more