06/15/09

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) _ Five organizations are suing the
federal government over its decision to drop about 4,000 gray
wolves in the upper Great Lakes region from the endangered species
list.

The Center for Biological Diversity and four other groups were
preparing to file their suit Monday in U.S. District Court in
Washington, D.C.

They contend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acted too
hastily last month by removing federal protections from wolves in
Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The agency says the wolves have recovered from the brink of
extinction and are capable of surviving under state management.

Opponents also sued earlier this month over the government's
removal of wolves in parts of the Northern Rockies from the
endangered list.

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