Hunters, Ranchers Claim Victory With Wolf Rider

Hunters and ranchers claim victory as a rider to the federal budget bill aims to delist wolves in a large portion of the Northern Rockies. The plan would put wolf management back in hands of the Montana and Idaho. Environmentalists say the time to fight has "come and gone." Now they'll focus on keeping the states in check. Hunters and ranchers say this is the moment they have been fighting for. A chance to take the fight out of the courts, and put it into the hands of lawmakers. Even though the wolf legislation is a victory, they say there's still work to do. "It's not what we want. It's not the end, the say all of the whole issue, but it is a step in the right direction," says wolf blogger Toby Bridges. Bridges may not be satisfied with the wolf rider, but he calls it a win. Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson, with the help of Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus, added an attachment to the federal budget that would take the gray wolf off the endangered species list by this summer. Bridges says it's a big blow to environmentalists. "Now we feel like we have them on the defense and we are on the offense," he says. Rep. Denny Rehberg introduced legislation in the House that would delist wolves across the U.S., but it is still in committee. Right now, Tester's office says the rider is unlikely to be changed. A vote on the budget is expected Thursday. ..more