The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed to lift federal protections from wolves in the Midwest. The proposal, if approved, would remove gray wolves from the federal list of endangered and threatened species in the newly established "Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment" because wolves in this area no longer need the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

Posted in the Federal Register on March 27, 2006, the proposal outlines the delisting area as a Distinct Population Segment (DPS), which is defined as a significant population that occurs in a distinct portion of a species' or subspecies' range. The Western Great Lakes DPS includes all of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan where wolf populations are present as well as surrounding areas where wolves may disperse (travel) to but are not likely to establish persistent home ranges. Those surrounding areas include parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Full story.