Recent legislation modifying the California Fish and Game Code allows the Commission to delay its decision-making for 90 days if it is necessary for the Commissioners to further consider its decision.
The Commission will hear further testimony and accept additional comments on the Gray Wolf listing decision at its next regularly-scheduled meeting on June 4th, in Fortuna, California. The Commission will schedule a special hearing date for July, prior to the expiration of the 90-day deadline, to make a final decision whether or not to list the wolf under CESA.
EPIC, along with the Center for Biological Diversity and others filed a petition to list the Gray Wolf as “endangered” under CESA in 2012. In February 2014, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued its Status Report for the Gray Wolf, recommending that the Commission not list the species under CESA, citing a lack of scientific certainty. Comments from EPIC and others have challenged the Department’s findings and have encouraged the Commission to list the wolf as “endangered’ under CESA.
Listing of the Gray Wolf under CESA is essential to the survival and recovery of the species in California. With a lack of state protections, and the looming potential of de-listing the wolf at the federal level clearly drives home the urgent need to protect Gray Wolves under CESA.
The Commission has indefinitely extended its public comment period regarding the Gray Wolf CESA listing. Please consider supporting the listing of the wolf under CESA by sending letters to the Commission at: fgc@fgc.ca.gov.