By Associated Press April 25, 2015
PORTLAND — Wildlife officials have moved forward with the process that could remove the gray wolf from the state’s endangered species list.
The decision Friday by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission came as the number of wolves and breeding pairs have increased in the state. By 2014, there were 77 wolves in 15 known packs.
The state’s conservation goal was to have four breeding pairs for three consecutive years, a goal that was reached earlier this year.
The commission will look at two options: delisting the wolves statewide and partially, in eastern Oregon only. The option of not delisting also remains.
State delisting would not impact a federal endangered listing that includes the state’s western two-thirds.
Commissioners will draft a proposal by June and vote on it in August.
Exposing the Big Game 
It’s so very strange that we keep wolf numbers tightly under out thumbs, even in modern times. It is not 1500s Europe anymore!!!!! When you look at the map of the wolf’s recovered range in the US, it is ridiculously small. There are other places they could be safely reintroduced to.
77 whole wolfs! Oh noes! Da state is being overrun by dem dere big bad wolfs! Quick! Lock up yer kids before dem dere man eatin’ preditors eat everything in site! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Yes, because wolves occupying 5% of their natural range is recovered (sarcasm).
Obviously, they will not rest until the wolves are gone. Those who wanted to introduce them should have known better. Yes, they are an apex predator and a part of the ecosystem, but the history of our abuse and killing of the wolf for years was a warning for things to come.
What is this? During Mao’s time in China there was a war on poor sparrows and there were competitions who kills more. But this is US — what did they do wrong, The Wolves — is this because there are so many hunters who can get paid by killing them? How can this madness be stopped?