After spending millions of dollars in taxpayer money to restore gray wolves to the American wilderness, the once-officially-endangered species is now firmly in hunters' sights. As of today, the wolf has lost its federal protected status, and now individual states get to decide on the fate of the wolves within their borders.
Wolf
Extinction Blog: Wolves lose protected status today
Calif. congressman puts in bill to shoot down wolf control
A California lawmaker presented a bill Tuesday designed to put an end to Alaska's aerial wolf control program under which hundreds of wolves have been killed.
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., introduced the House bill in the Committee on Natural Resources. He was joined by Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., and Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash.
Miller said the Protect America's Wildlife Act, or PAW Act, would close a loophole in federal law that Alaska has exploited to permit hunters to shoot and kill nearly 700 wolves from aircraft in the past several years.