This editorial appeared in The Idaho Statesman.
The wolf – a controversial political animal for years – now becomes a problem for the new Obama administration.
The outgoing Bush administration left this issue at the doorstep last Wednesday, announcing a new plan to remove the wolf from the federal endangered species list and turn over management decisions to Idaho and other states.
National environmental groups will surely lobby the new White House to reverse course, no doubt predicting a death sentence for the wolf. The White House also will hear from the likes of Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, who joined Idaho's congressional Republicans in a press release praising Wednesday's "delisting" decision. "I am confident that Idaho ranchers, sportsmen, scientists and leaders will successfully manage the health of wolves and other wildlife populations for years to come."
So are we. Idaho has earned any benefit of the doubt and a chance to prove itself. And that's exactly what the state should get from the new administration.
Wednesday's announcement was no 11th-hour move from a lame-duck administration. It was, instead, years in the making.
To read the complete editorial, visit The Idaho Statesman.