After months of debate between government officials and animal protection organizations, gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes region will return to the endangered species list.

The Humane Society of the United States, along with several other groups, recently filed a lawsuit in court seeking the restoration of federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves. Such protections would make the killing of the animal illegal, even if it poses a predatory threat to livestock or pets.

All lethal control means previously allowed will no longer apply, except in the unique case of a wolf posing significant danger to human life.

The controversy over wolves has been common in other regions of the country as well. This case marks the sixth time in five years that the federal government has taken wolves off the list, only to soon replace them because of legal pressure.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determines whether or not a species should be considered endangered.

“(The wolves) have reached recovery goals,” said Georgia Parham, spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service. “Those criteria have been met, but the process requires that public comment and review be provided.”

Pending court approval, opportunities for additional public comment will be offered under the Administrative Procedures Act.

Taking gray wolves off the endangered species list would be a premature act, said Howard Goldman, senior state director for the Humane Society in Minnesota.

Michigan’s gray wolf population in particular has seen improvements over the past 30 years, but at a slow rate.

“There were no wolves there in the early ’70s,” Goldman said. “There are 580 or so now.”

Goldman added that the illegal killing of wolves is another reason animal-interest groups are against the delisting of wolves.

“There have been 36 cases of wolves being killed illegally in the past five years,” he said.

Organizations have also argued that removing wolves from the list would open up the possibility of future hunting seasons, further hindering the animal’s survival.

“The ongoing poaching problem is a serious threat,” said Michael Robinson, conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity.

Robinson said that gray wolves are moving towards recovery, but that the population still needs to increase considerably before a move to take them off the endangered species list permanently can be considered.

However, he added that the Center for Biological Diversity is not currently looking at an absolute number.

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E-mail the author: Jake Bolitho