BOISE, Idaho — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks on Friday announced its intent to file a lawsuit against the federal government after a November 2023 proposal could change the endangered status of wolverines to a threatened species.
The state of Montana filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to prevent a FWS proposal to add wolverines to the endangered species list.
The Montana agency said wolverines are seriously threatened due to climate change, habitat fragmentation and geographic isolation. By removing them from the endangered species list and stripping them of their protections, the 300 wolverines in the lower 48 states could disappear.
"Montana continues to demonstrate that it can't be trusted to protect its imperiled wildlife. We won't let Montana strip wolverines of the Endangered Species Act protections they desperately need," said Andrea Zaccardi, the Center for Biological Diversity's carnivore conservation legal director.
As previously reported by the Associated Press, the debate over the protection of animals has been an issue for almost two decades.
The AP also reports wolverines were nearly wiped out back in the 1900s due to unregulated trapping and poisoning campaigns. The animal primarily lives in the high northern Rocky Mountains, and their habitat has lessened due to climate change.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.