A decision by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to affirm the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to remove gray wolves from the list of threatened and endangered species in the western Great Lakes and some western Rocky Mountain states was applauded today by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

In 2008, a minimum of 520 gray wolves lived in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, part of an estimated population of 4,000 gray wolves living in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"Gray wolves have made a strong and successful recovery in our state," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "This decision will allow management of the species to be performed by the state, so that we can fully implement the state's wolf management plan."

Humphries also emphasized that while the gray wolf has been removed from the federal endangered species list, it remains on the state's protection as a species. There currently is no hunting or trapping of gray wolves allowed in Michigan, and starting on April 22, the gray wolf will be listed as a nongame species in Michigan. In order for hunting to occur, the Michigan Legislature would need to pass a law to add the gray wolf to the list of game species in the state, she said.

In a statement released Friday, Secretary Salazar said, "The successful recovery of this species is a stunning example of how the (Endangered Species) Act can work to keep imperiled animals from sliding into extinction."

Salazar's affirmation of the USFWS decision will impact gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region, the states of Idaho, Montana and parts of Washington, Oregon and Utah. Wolves will remain a protected species in Wyoming.

Gray wolves were previously listed as an endangered species in the lower 48 states, except in Minnesota where they were listed as threatened. Wolves in the remaining lower 48 states, remain endangered and are not affected by Salazar's decision.

The USFWS will monitor the delisted wolf populations for a minimum of five years to ensure that they continue to sustain their recovery. At the end of the monitoring period, the USFWS will decide if relisting, continued monitoring or ending monitoring is appropriate.

For more information about the gray wolf in Michigan, visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr and click on the "Wildlife & Habitat" menu.