By Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio News

After three failed attempts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is again considering whether to remove the gray wolf from federal protection in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Spurred by petitions from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and others, the federal agency has opened a public comment period and is expected to issue a recommendation in six months

The Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded a 90-day review of petitions to remove the region’s wolves from protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. Lora Ragan, a Minnesota-based biologist for the agency, said the requests made a strong case.

“We think there is substantial information provided to indicate that delisting may be warranted here in the western Great Lakes,” Ragan said.

The service is inviting public comment, while it continues evaluating the status of gray wolves.

About 3,000 wolves in Minnesota have partial protection under the law. Under certain circumstances, wolves can be killed but only when they have harmed livestock. Another 700 wolves in Wisconsin and Michigan are fully protected.

The region’s wolves have been removed from federal protection three times. Each time, the decision was reversed after legal challenges from environmental and wildlife groups.

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