No room in captivity for wolves, say wildlife center, zoo directors

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Directors of zoos, captive-breeding facilities and wildlife resource centers say there is not enough room to take in wolves if they are removed from Yellowstone National Park.

They have asked American Farm Bureau Federation President Dean Kleckner to drop the bureau's suit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program to return wolves to Yellowstone.

"First and foremost, zoos and other captive wolf facilities do not have room for additional wolves, especially for as many wolves as would need homes," they wrote to Kleckner.

A U.S. District Court ruling Dec. 12 declared the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's wolf recovery program illegal. Judge William Downes said the program reduced the endangered species protection afforded to native Montana and Canadian wolves.

Proposals to put the Yellowstone wolves in captivity, kill them or send them to Canada are on hold until March, when the 10th Circuit Court is expected to hear the appeal.

The cost of building additional enclosures, hiring new staff and buying additional feed for the 200 or so wolves would be enormous, the letter said.

"We believe that returning the wolves to Canada is no longer an acceptable option, either," the letter continued. "Returning these wolves to Canada would likewise result in high wolf mortality."

Before the wolf reintroduction began, the Wyoming Farm Bureau held that the program would be illegal, vice president Larry Bourret said.

"If we're going to ignore the law, then what other laws are we going to ignore?" Bourret said Monday. "Is that what people are proposing be done?"