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Washington • Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, is among the co-sponsors of the latest congressional effort to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., would allow state wildlife officials to manage the wolf population and is aimed at the Rocky Mountain states, where the wolf population has climbed in recent years.
Matheson says the trend is hurting hunters, and therefore rural economies, because the wolves are killing elk, deer and moose.
"It's time to let state wildlife professionals do their job and balance the needs of predator and prey to maintain a healthy balance," he said.
The bipartisan bill is similar to legislation offered in the House and Senate late last year, which was supported by all of Utah's members of Congress. It comes after courts have ruled that the federal government can't drop the endangered species protection for wolves in one state or one area alone. Environmental groups have argued that the gray wolf should remain on the list until it has been reintroduced in other areas of the nation.
Matt Canham