Posted: 12.22.2010

Environmentalists intend to sue the Obama
administration to force it to restore gray wolves across the lower
48 states __ even as Republicans seek to strip the animals of their
existing protections.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed formal notice Tuesday
that it will sue the Interior Department in 60 days unless it
crafts a plan to bring back wolves throughout their historical
range.

Biologists for the group say wolves belong in New England and
New York, the southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado and the Cascade
Range of Oregon and Washington.

Lawmakers from states where wolves already roam say there are
too many of the predators. Idaho Republican Sen. Mike Crapo tried
to force a vote Tuesday on a bill to strip wolves nationwide of
federal protections.

A Democratic objection killed the proposal.

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