haven’t put enough protections for them into place.

“The [U.S. Fish and Wildlife] Service has distinguished a natural population of wolves based on a political line, not the best available science. That, by definition, seems arbitrary and capricious,” Molloy wrote.

“In the big picture, this is a win,” Louisa Willcox, the senior wildlife advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated in a press release. “We feel good about the judge’s analysis of the merits of our case.”

Other claims dismissed

The coalition of environmental groups, represented by the Bozeman-based Earthjustice, had also argued that the hunts would cut off wolf territory, preventing distinct populations segment...

haven’t put enough protections for them into place.

“The [U.S. Fish and Wildlife] Service has distinguished a natural population of wolves based on a political line, not the best available science. That, by definition, seems arbitrary and capricious,” Molloy wrote.

“In the big picture, this is a win,” Louisa Willcox, the senior wildlife advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated in a press release. “We feel good about the judge’s analysis of the merits of our case.”

Other claims dismissed

The coalition of environmental groups, represented by the Bozeman-based Earthjustice, had also argued that the hunts would cut off wolf territory, preventing distinct populations segments (DPS) from traveling widely, a requirement for genetic diversity and healthy populations. Molloy was not persuaded by that argument.

“The plaintiffs fail to offer evidence that the DPS will suffer irreparable harm if the Idaho and Montana wolf hunting seasons occur in 2009—even assuming hunters manage to kill 330 wolves,” he wrote, referring to the maximum estimated number of wolf-hunt deaths that game officials mentioned in court.

“Defendants provide affidavits from scientific experts that a wolf population such as the northern Rocky Mountain DPS can sustain single season harvest rates in excess of 30 percent,” Molloy wrote. “The wolf hunts here, even if they reach the maximum take in both states, would mean taking about 20 percent of the wolf population, well below what scientists believe the population can easily withstand through a one- or two-year hunt. ... In addition, the hunt is not expected to have any impact on the genetic connectivity,” Molloy concluded.

Environmental groups will be revisiting the matter in court as they continue their efforts to win back federal protections for gray wolves.

Idaho’s wolf hunt, which kicked off Sept. 1, allows hunters to kill 220 of the animals. The quota for Montana’s wolf hunt, which opens Sept. 15, is 75 wolves.