Oregon officials vote to remove wolf from state's endangered species list

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon wildlife officials have voted to remove the gray wolf from the state's Endangered Species Act list.


The state's Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 4-2 to delist the wolves during a Monday meeting in Salem.

Eighty-one wolves now live in Oregon. State biologists said the species is not in danger of extinction here. But some independent scientists disagree with that conclusion.

The state's wolf plan calls for initiating a process to consider stripping wolves of legal protections when eastern Oregon hits a population of four breeding pairs for three consecutive years. That goal was met in January.

While delisting wolves wouldn't lead to immediate changes, more lethal measures could be allowed to manage them in the future. An upcoming wolf plan review could also lead to changes in protections.