Grey Wolf in Minnesota: the History and Current Status - Research Paper Example

Endangered Species List Thesis: Minnesota was forced to take the grey wolf off the endangered species list. Introduction a. Minnesota justifies the taking of the grey wolf off the endangered species. b. . The research focuses on justifying the removal of the grey wolf from the endangered species list. c. The research includes the voice of the pro –wolf conservation groups. II. History and Current Status of Grey Wolf in Minnesota. a. Grey wolf is included in 1974 list of endangered Species. b. Grey wolf was on the brink of extinction in 1974. c. Grey wolf has surpassed Minnesota’s 1,400 maximum grey wolf population. III. Endangered Species. a. Minnesota wolf management program protects the grey wolves. b. Minnesota has set aside grey wolf conservation areas. IV. Prediction to the Future of the Grey Wolf in Minnesota. a. President Barack Obama signs the 2011 congress- approved law for the removal of the grey wolf from the endangered species list. b. Pro conservationist groups will sue the federal government. c. The grey fox population will decline to minimum levels. V. Endangered Species Act. a. The Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1973. b. The grey wolf was included in the endangered species list in 1974. VI. Conclusion a. Minnesota justifies the taking of the grey wolf off the endangered species. b. The removal of the grey wolf from the endangered species list allows the hunters to hunt the grey wolves to extinction. c. The pro –wolf conservationist will sue the federal government using political action to a purely biological issue. d. Indeed, Minnesota State had its hands tied and forced to take the grey wolf off the endangered species list in compliance with the federal law. I. Introduction Minnesota justifies the taking of the grey wolf off the endangered species. The research focuses on justifying the removal of the grey wolf from the endangered species list. The research includes the voice of the pro –wolf conservation groups. Minnesota must comply with the congress-approved law requiring the taking of the grey wolf off the endangered species list. Minnesota is forced to comply with the congress-approved federal law. Andy Birkey (1) stated Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar had informed the public that the United States federal government was removing the grey wolf from the long list of endangered animals’ species. Minnesota has the second largest population of the grey wolves, next to Alaska. Secretary Ken Salazar announced the United States federal government’s reason for the removal was “The recovery of the grey wolf throughout significant portion of its historic range is one of the great success stories of the Endangered Species Act.” The history and current status of the Grey Wolf in Minnesota. Historically, Adrian Wydeven (113) insisted the grey wolf was included in the long list of endangered animal species in 1974. In 1974, the number of grey wolves was on the brink of extinction. The grey wolf population was in danger of disappearing from the face of the United States. However, Birkey (1) reiterated the grey wolf population has climbed up to 5,500. This includes the 1, 600 grey wolves roaming the Rockies as of 2009. During 2007, President Bush had transferred the grey wolf from the endangered species list to the threatened species list. The court over-ruled the President Bush decision in September 2008. As of October 2008, Minnesota had 2,900 grey wolves. The state of Minnesota targets maintaining a population of between 1,251 to 1,400 wolves. Because of the current overpopulation of grey wolves, the grey wolves are being removed from the endangered species list. In responses to the removal of the Minnesota grey wolves from endangered species list, conservation groups have gone to the courts to sue the United States federal government. Endangered Species. The grey wolf is being cared for by the Minnesota State under its endangered species program (Resources 1). The 2001 Minnesota wolf management program is the main responsibility of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is a strong partner of the Minnesota wolf management program. Under the program, Minnesota ensures the long term increase in the grey wolf population. The program discovered that the grey wolf population increased if the wolf’s prey population increased. On the other hand, a decline in the wolf’s prey population translates to a decline in the grey wolf population. The alligator and the bald eagle had been removed from the endangered species list. The grey wolf’s prey list includes the elk, deer, sheep, rabbits, and livestock. Prediction as to the future of the Grey Wolf in Minnesota. Daniel Nasaw (1) emphasized United States President Barack Obama signed last April, 2011 the United States Congress’ approval of the delisting of the grey wolf from the United States endangered species list. The Congress’ move was the culmination of the fight between pro wolf conservation and anti-wolf conservation groups. On the one hand, the anti-wolf conservation groups feared the grey wolves were devastating their wild game and herds. On the other hand, the pro grey wolf conservation groups feared the politicians had meddled in a purely biological issue. Consequently, the removal will allow the affected states to manage the size of wolf packs and allow hunters to increase the elk population, a favorite prey of the grey wolves. The 2011 law removes the Minnesota state’s protection of the grey wolf. With the decline in the elk herd by an estimated 70 percent, there is an expected decline in the grey wolf population due to lack of food. Drastically, the 2011 act signed by President Barack Obama allows hunters to kill grey wolves on sight, without remorse or reservation. The law will reduce the grey wolf population to minimum levels. Minnesota is forced to comply with the Federal law. Endangered Species Act. President Richard Nixon had signed the Endangered Species Act in 1973. The act is aimed at preventing the extermination of animal species on the brink of extinction. The act focused on increasing the population of the endangered species of animals within the United States. The grey wolf was included in the endangered species list in 1974. The act provides protection to the grey wolf from hunters, state, as well as local government agencies. Conclusion. Minnesota justifies the taking of the grey wolf off the endangered species. The removal of the grey wolf from the endangered species list allows the hunters to hunt the grey wolves to extinction. The pro –wolf conservationist will sue the federal government for using political action to a purely biological issue. Indeed, Minnesota has its hands tied and must comply with the congress-approved law requiring the taking of the grey wolf off the endangered species list. Cited Works Birkey, A. "Minnesota's Gray Wolf to be Removed from Endangered Species List -Again." The Minnesota Independent 3 October 2009: 1. The source focuses on the grey wolf as an endangered species. The resource is useful. The information is reliable. The source is objective (informative and persuasive). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. February 2001. Retrieved 19 April 2011 from . The source focuses on the grey wolf as an endangered species. The resource is useful. The information is reliable. The source is objective (informative and persuasive). Nasaw, D. "Congress Strips Grey Wolf Endangered Species Protection." BBC News 15 April 2011: 1. The source focuses on the U.S. congress’ removal of the grey wolf as an endangered species. The resource is useful. The information is reliable. The source is objective (informative and persuasive). Wydeven, A. Recovery of Gray Wolves in the Great Lakes Region. New York: Springer Press, 2009. The source focuses on the grey wolf as an endangered species. The resource is useful. The information is reliable. The source is objective (informative and persuasive). Read More