WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States, along with other animal protection groups, celebrated a decision late yesterday by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ordering the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to immediately stop the killing of gray wolves in Wisconsin. The wolf populations in most of the lower 48 United States, including Wisconsin, are classified as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act. Gray wolves historically ranged across most of the United States but currently have breeding populations in only six states. 

This ruling vacates the "enhancement" permit issued by FWS to Wisconsin that authorized state officials to kill dozens of wolves within the state. Judge Kollar-Kotelly threw out the permit, holding that a permit that is designated to enhance the species can not be used instead to kill the endangered wolves as this violates the letter and spirit of the ESA. 

"This is a great victory not only for the wolf populations within Wisconsin but also for those found throughout the United States," said Patricia Lane, senior attorney in the Animal Protection Litigation Section of The Humane Society of the United States. "This ruling creates an outstanding precedent for all other endangered species that are currently listed under the ESA and struggling to make a recovery. Judge Kollar-Kotelly made it clear that the enhancement permits issued pursuant to the ESA cannot be used for lethal control."

"This is a crucial step in acknowledging the continuing relevance of the ESA," said John W. Grandy, Ph.D., HSUS senior vice president. "This Administration will not be able to circumvent the protections of the ESA through the improper and unlawful use of the permit."

The HSUS has been involved in wolf protection advocacy for decades and often works with other groups on a collaborative basis to promote the protection of the species.  Today's ruling came as a result of litigation brought by a coalition of conservation and animal protection organizations, including The HSUS, the Animal Protection Institute, Friends of Animals and Their Environment, Help Our Wolves Live, Indigenous Environmental Network, the Klamath Forest Alliance, and RESTORE: The North Woods, represented by the public interest law firm of Faegre and Benson. 

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.