Groups sue over delisting of gray wolves

Five organizations are suing the federal government over its decision to remove about 4,000 gray wolves in the upper Great Lakes region from the endangered species list.

The Center for Biological Diversity and four other groups were preparing to file their suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

They contend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acted too hastily last month by removing federal protections from wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The agency says the wolves have recovered from the brink of extinction and are capable of surviving under state management.

Opponents also sued earlier this month over the government's removal of wolves in parts of the Northern Rockies from the endangered list.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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