Battle over gray wolf delisting anticipated

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Battle over gray wolf delisting anticipated

Livestock groups are prepared for resistance from environmentalists now that the gray wolf is being removed from the Endangered Species List.

Minnesota State Cattlemens Association president Mike Landuyt tells Brownfield lawsuits are likely to follow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ruling that wolf populations have fully recovered and no longer need federal protection.

“We’ve been told that the lawsuits have already been written and just waiting to be filed, so we’re anticipating that. We’re hopeful that this time there is enough in place (and we) did enough research to satisfy the courts.”

The crop and livestock producer from Walnut Grove says the ag sector is ready to fight for state management of gray wolves.

“We’re going to continue to, if we need to or not (I don’t know), but keep moving legislatively because that’s still an option (and) something we had worked on in the past (in case) we couldn’t get it done with rulemaking. We want to keep all our options on the table too.”

National Cattlemens Beef Association vice president Don Schiefelbein, a rancher in central Minnesota, calls the recovery and delisting of the gray wolf an outstanding victory under the Endangered Species Act.

The rule delisting the wolf from federal protections after 45 years will go into effect January 4th, 2021.

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