OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is proposing to reclassify the status of Washington’s gray wolves from endangered to sensitive and is looking for public input on the proposal.
This proposal is based on the species’ recovery rate and population model published by the University of Washington.
Washington state classifies an endangered species as seriously threatened with extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the state.
Under WAC 220-610-110, sensitive is defined as “vulnerable or declining and likely to become endangered or threatened in a significant portion of its range within the state without cooperative management or removal of threats.”
“Wolves in Washington have made significant progress toward recovery since their original state endangered listing in 1980, when there were no known breeding wolves in the state,” said Julia Smith, WDFW’s Endangered Species Recovery Section Manager.
This proposal wouldn’t affect the western two-thirds of Washington wolves and they would still be protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The comment period would be open from Feb. 7 until May 6 at 11:59 p.m. Members of the public can submit comments on the proposed rule in several ways:
By going topublicinput.com/sepa_graywolf and submitting a written comment, By emailing graywolf2024@publicinput.com, By calling 855-925-2801 and entering project code 6505 to leave a voicemail, Or by mailing written comments to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, attention Wildlife Program, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504.
Smith added that this recommended reclassification to be sensitive will reflect the progress and accuracy of the current status of wolves in Washington.
