Groups File Lawsuit In Wolf Delisting

Environmental groups have asked a federal judge to put gray wolves back on the endangered species list in the Northern Rockies. Two lawsuits were filed in federal court in Montana yesterday as control over more than 1,300 wolves was turned over to state authorities in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Utah. A federal budget bill rider in April had mandated The lifting of wolf protections. Western lawmakers who backed the measure said they wanted to circumvent U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, who blocked prior efforts to lift protections and allow hunting. But environmentalists say that because the case before Molloy was pending, Congress violated the separation of powers doctrine outlined in the Constitution that bars interference with the judiciary.  The plaintiff in the other case is the Center for Biological Diversity.  Public wolf hunts are planned this fall in Montana and Idaho.