The gray wolf will remain listed as “endangered” in Washington.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended downgrading the wolf’s status from “endangered” to “sensitive” ahead of a July 19 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting, but the commission voted 5-4 to keep wolves listed as endangered.
The department received more than 13,000 comments after its recommendation, with nearly 90% of comments opposing the downlisting. Gov. Jay Inslee (D) also sent a letter requesting the wolf’s status remain endangered.
Gray wolves remain federally protected in the western portion of the state.
“If it’s well, ‘maybe it’s endangered, maybe it’s threatened, maybe it’s sensitive,’ you don’t change a listing,” Commissioner Melanie Rowland said, who voted against the downlisting.
