Wolf comeback turns predator into prey

"It's a biological success story," says Interior Secretary Gale Norton.

Many biologists describe wolves as a "keystone species," which means the effect of their demise could ripple out in crucial and perhaps unforeseen ways. "The animals provide a living laboratory to study how a top predator affects plants and animals within the entire ecosystem," says Steve Williams, director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

But over the 10 years since the wolf reintroduction program began in 1995, several hundred cows, sheep, other stock animals and pets have been killed. In some cases, conservation groups reimbursed farmers and ranchers for their loss. In other instances, government officials have relocated or killed what were seen as "problem wolves."

But until now, private individuals needed special permission to kill wolves that had developed a taste for domestic animals. Under the new rules, they may shoot wolves that are harassing livestock or other domestic animals. In addition, the federal government will relinquish responsibility to states and Indian tribes that develop approved wolf-management plans. At the moment, Idaho and Montana fit that category.

The general idea, officials say, is to increase opportunities to remove problem wolves while still protecting the majority of wolves that are not causing conflicts with people.

Conservationists agree that wolf populations must be monitored and even controlled in some cases. But they're wary of the new scheme for doing that.

"The new rule potentially jeopardizes wolf recovery efforts just as they were beginning to show some success," says Nina Fascione, vice president of Defenders of Wildlife.

State officials have a different view.

"The old rule was designed to oversee a small, reintroduced population," says Jim Caswell, head of the Idaho Office of Species Conservation. "This new rule offers the flexibility needed to manage a wolf population that has surpassed 500 wolves statewide."

Despite the better-than-anticipated recovery, wolves remain absent from more than 90 percent of their historical range. And despite the loosened regulations for controlling wolves' relationship to human activities, officials say they intend to manage and protect wolves as an important part of the wildlife scene.

Speaking of the turning over of responsibility for that management to states and tribes, Ms. Norton says, "Our biologists will be asking the tough questions."

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