The wolf population rapidly increased in number and expanded in range meeting Endangered Species Act recovery levels. Following negotiation and approval of a revised Wyoming Gray Wolf Management Plan, Endangered Species Act protections were again removed for wolves in Wyoming. The District Court decision was appealed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and State of Wyoming in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., which ruled in favor of the agencies and management authority of wolves returned to the State of Wyoming on April 25. 2008 2014 2002 2012 2017 2023 Endangered Species Act protections were removed for wolves in Wyoming and they were delisted following the approval of the Wyoming Gray Wolf Management Plan, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulations and Wyoming Statutes by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A federal court decision relisted wolves under the Endangered Species Act within months of delisting, citing inadequate regulatory mechanisms to ensure the wolf population would remain recovered. This delisting decision was challenged in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., which overturned the delisting and relinquished management authority for wolves in Wyoming back to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 22nd consecutive year, the wolf population in Wyoming has remained above recovery levels established for wolves by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. WOLF MANAGEMENT Wyoming Wildlife | 23