Washington mulls reclassifying wolf status

Eric Barker, Lewiston Tribune, Idaho
Updated ·4 min read

May 19—Washington is seeking public comments on a draft proposal that would reclassify wolves from endangered to sensitive in the Evergreen State.

The change, known as a downlisting, would have no effect on the federal status of wolves in Washington. Nor would it change state-based protections for wolves. Instead, Julia Smith, wolf policy lead for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the proposed downlisting reflects the change in wolf numbers over the past four decades.

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