Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Justice Department has asked a Montana judge to formally put the gray wolf back on the Endangered Species List. Correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports.

In February the Bush Administration moved to take federal protection away from the gray wolf. But several environmental groups sued, arguing the rationale by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was illegal and inadequate.

They point to a section that would have allowed wolf hunting in about 90 percent of Wyoming.

In July, Judge Donald Malloy granted an injunction keeping the wolf on the Endangered Species List.

Assuming the judge accepts the new Justice Department request, the Fish and Wildlife Service would go back and address the issues raised in the lawsuit.

Agency spokeswoman Sharon Rose says the Idaho and Montana state wolf management plans would still be valid, although plans for a fall wolf hunting season in Idaho would be postponed.

Rose says the Fish and Wildlife Service could petition again to remove the wolf from the endangered list. But that would be a question for the next administration.