Howl!

Wolves have been removed from the endangered species list in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Idaho and Montana, and parts of Utah, Washington and Oregon. Gray wolves will retain Endangered Species Act protection in Wyoming, where Interior Department officials say recovery efforts have been insufficient.

The decision to withdraw proctection is based upon evidence of an increase in the wolf poplulation. However, over the past year, the wolf population in Yellowstone National Park has declined by 27 percent, with more than 70 percent of wolf pups succumbing to disease.

On May 2, the wolf's federal protection will be lifted, and government agents will be free to open fire. After that, the states will launch public hunts, targeting wolves.

Take part in The Big Howl campaign to encourage the preservation of wolf populations.

Image: "Wolf" by Gunnar Ries on flickr courtesy of Creative Commons liscensing.