Current conservation policies might not be adequately protecting gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the Northern Rocky Mountains, according to recent research.
A team of researchers found that the wolves, which were reintroduced to the area in the mid-90s and later delisted from the Endangered Species Act in 2012, are now facing decreased survival and reproduction as well as smaller pack sizes.
As part of a study published in the journal Science, researchers examined the impact of hunting on wolf decline and distribution. The species went from having full protection under the Act to dealing with heavy human harvest, said Scott Creel, an ecology professor at Montana State University and lead author of the study.