Salazar optimistic on wolf talks

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday that he's "more optimistic" than ever that Wyoming and federal officials can reach an agreement to remove wolves in the state from the federal endangered-species list. Gov. Matt Mead, who discussed the issue with Salazar behind closed doors Tuesday, said there's "a sense of urgency" to strike a deal before a Montana judge approves a settlement that would lift protections for wolves in Montana and Idaho and allow hunting. Since being reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, wolf populations in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana have grown to about 1,700. Wyoming had about 320 wolves at the end of 2009, with 224 of those outside the park. Federal wildlife officials have said they want to give control over wolves back to individual states, but disputes over what the states' management plans should look like have resulted in lengthy court battles...more