MADISON, WI (AP)-- Wisconsin wildlife officials have indefinitely shelved their new wolf management plan in the wake of a federal ruling placing Great Lakes wolves back on the endangered species list.
The Department of Natural Resources had planned to release a revised plan this month. That proposal included four population options — hold it at the current level of about 650 wolves; maintaining a 350-wolf goal; holding the population between 300 and 650 animals; or setting a minimum of 350 wolves.
The DNR had hoped to garner public comments on each option and present a final population recommendation to the agency's board in April. But a federal judge last month ordered wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin back on the endangered species list and taking management out of the states' hands.