Biologists overruled in wolverine decision

Missoula, MT—A decision by field and regional biologists that wolverines are “warranted” for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) was reversed at the 11th hour by the Bush administration, according to a coalition of ten conservation groups that filed suit today in the U.S. District Court against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for its failure to protect wolverines under the ESA.

Documents received in response to a Freedom of Information Act request revealed there was a last-minute scramble to reverse a positive ESA listing decision “because of the climate change issues in light of the ongoing discussions in DC on the polar bear finding,” according to one memo authored by a FWS biologist.

“Americans deserve better.  Science, not politics is supposed to drive ESA decisions,” said Tim Preso of Earthjustice who is representing the groups.  “The wrong decision could cause irreversible harm,” he added, “extinction is forever.”

The polar bear was listed as a Threatened species in May largely due to the threat posed by climate change after months of delay by the Bush Administration.  Similar to polar bears, wolverines are at direct risk from climate change because they depend on areas that maintain deep snow from February through early May where they dig their dens to birth and raise their young.  Snowpack in the western mountains is in decline due to climate change.

In March, the FWS acknowledged that wolverines in the lower-48 states are threatened because of their low numbers, isolation from Canadian populations, and climate change - but refused to protect the species because the agency found: (1) they are not sufficiently “discrete” from Canadian populations, and (2) the wolverine’s remaining range in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington State is “not a significant portion” of its overall distribution.  The conservation groups maintain that this is an illegal “about-face” from previous listing decisions regarding lynx, grizzly bears, and wolves, for example.

“We have received no response to our July 13-page letter addressing these concerns,” said David Gaillard of Defenders of Wildlife.  “This leaves us no choice but to file suit and try to reverse the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision before it is too late for wolverines in the West.”

Earthjustice filed the lawsuit on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Northwest, Friends of the Clearwater, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Idaho Conservation League, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center and Wyoming Outdoor Council.

###

Contacts:

David Gaillard, Defenders of Wildlife, (406) 586-3970
Tim Preso, Earthjustice, (406) 586-9699
Joe Scott, Conservation Northwest, (360) 671-9950 x.11
 Joseph Vaile, KS Wild, 541-488-5789