Walden’s Plan To Remove Gray Wolf Cleared by House

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to remove gray wolves from the general endangered species list.  Oregon’s Greg Walden led the charge for removal.

“Oregon's wolf population has grown by more than 40%, and yet we have this divided management strategy in the federal government where in part of the state wolves are still listed and part of the state they’re not. We need a single management strategy where we have local control under the Oregon state plan.  That's why this amendment is so important.”

Walden said removing the gray wolf from the endangered species list will allow states to make management decisions.  Three years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the recovery efforts of the gray wolf were successful, and proposed delisting it.  However, litigation by outside groups has greatly slowed the process.

Walden’s plan was part of a larger bill setting the annual budget for the Department of the Interior and other agencies, which the House approved Thursday.  Walden teamed up with Washington’s Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers to introduce the amendment.

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