• Wikimedia
    2 of 12

    Gray wolf

    This fall, a positive note appeared to be struck for the gray wolf when the species was removed from the endangered list in the state of Wyoming, but the decision was not met without controversy. Not all steps forward are as positive as they may appear on the surface. Technically, the only thing that makes a species endangered is that it is on an endangered-species list maintained by some organization, governmental or otherwise. Sometimes, a species will be officially removed from an endangered list under protest from environmental and wildlife conservation groups. While gray wolves have made great progress is their recovery, there are many who say it isn’t appropriate for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove their endangered protection. Making matters worse, the wolves weren’t only removed from the list, but at the same time were declared predators, allowing Wyoming hunters to freely hunt them. This move was followed quickly by tragedy, when a wolf known as 832F, considered by many to be the most famous and beloved wolf in the world, was shot and killed by a hunter earlier this month.