On Dec. 19th U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell put the wolf back on the endangered species list in the Great Lakes region. Howell ruled that the (previous) removal was “arbitrary and capricious” and violated the federal Endangered Species Act.

Now some are warning wildlife advocates, be careful for what you wish for… Speculation that poaching rates will increase finds support in social media chatter – already strife with extreme comments on how wolf detractors will “take matters into their own hands.” Although there have been some who claim Howell is simply a “liberal out east judge” who is ignorant about the species’ recovery in the great lakes region, Howell’s concerns were and are both sound and scientific.

Read more on Steve Meurett’s Writing with Light blog.