After the wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains are delisted, how many wolves must the States manage?
Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming have each committed to manage at least 15 breeding pairs and at least 150 wolves in mid-winter to provide a buffer to ensure that the NRM wolf population never falls below the mandated minimum level of 30 breeding pairs and 300 wolves (10 breeding pairs and 100 wolves per state). If the wolf population ever dropped below that level, the Service could take actions to protect wolves through the Service’s emergency listing authority under the Endangered Species Act. Wyoming has committed to manage for at least 7 breeding pairs outside the national parks in Wyoming, regardless of how many wolves are in the national parks. After delisting, what happens to wolves outside the NRM wolf DPS? This action will not affect the status of any wolves outside of the northern Rocky Mountain wolf DPS. The status of wolves under the ESA is determined by their location. Therefore, any wolf outside the boundary of the northern Rocky Mountain wolf DPS would retain its current stat
