On March 11, 2008, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a finding that the North American Wolverine ( Gulo gulo luscus ) in the contiguous 48 states did not warrant listing as a Threatened or Endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (1973). This finding was in response to a previous challenge by a coalition of environmental groups in 2000 to list the wolverine, and was protracted due to procedural errors made by the USFWS in 2003. A subsequent decision deadline extension to February 28, 2008, was granted to the USFWS to allow inclusion of the most recent biological information in their decision making process. Attempts to list the wolverine in 1994 and 2000 were based on a concern for the continued existence of wolverines in a world of shrinking habitat and a paucity of sound biological information regarding the management of this elusive creature.

It is the position of The Wolverine Foundation, Inc. (TWF) that a decision regarding listing protection of the wolverine under the Endangered Species Act, regardless of the finding, should be developed from an objective assessment based on sound science. It is our consensus that this was policy-based, rather than a biologically-based finding. Therefore, TWF does not concur with, nor can it objectively reconcile the US Fish and Wildlife decision.

News Release - Endangered Species Act Protection for Wolverine Not Warranted (Please wait while pdf file loads)

Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 11, 2008 / Proposed Rules (Please wait while pdf file loads)