Congressional budget rider removes animals from endangered list
(NEWSER) - A massive wolf hunt is coming to the Rocky Mountain states now that Congress has quietly passed a budget rider ordering wolves be taken off endangered species lists everywhere but Wyoming. Since wolves were re-introduced to the region in 1994, their numbers have grown to 1,700, angering ranchers and hunters, who blame the wolves for reducing elk populations 20%. The governor of Idaho considered declaring a " wolf emergency " to allow the animals to be hunted, but Congress stepped in instead. "It took everybody a while to realize just how little support wolves had in Congress," said one wildlife activist. More»