Gray Wolf Endangered Species Listing Debated

The gray wolf may remain on the endangered species list, due in part to an assessment completed at UC Santa Barbara’s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. Last June, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) proposed removing the gray wolf from the list and adding the Mexican wolf, which provoked an outcry from some conservationists. In response, USFWS had the NCEAS evaluate the issue as an independent party. Panelists determined that the proposal to remove the gray wolf was based on a single, preliminary scientific publication, which thereby re-started the conversation. Public comment will open until March 27.