Washington, D.C. - The gray wolf will remain on the endangered species list and state management of the animal will be delayed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today.

The agency refused to accept Wyoming's wolf management plan, which includes two different classifications for wolves found in different areas of the state.

U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., believes state wildlife managers would do a good job managing the wolf and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should allow them the opportunity.

"I had hoped for something more from this Fish and Wildlife Service, but I am not giving up hope. We can still come to a decision that will allow the agency to delist the wolf while also protecting Wyoming's interests. Wyoming started this process by asking the agency for more insight and better communications to avoid this very situation. Hopefully next time, the agency will be able to step up to the plate and work directly with us in a more open and productive way," said Enzi. "It's too bad the Fish and Wildlife Service would allow semantics to get in the way of productive, on-the-ground management decisions for the gray wolf. Wyoming can change the wording of its management plan, but the end result will be the same as the plan the state presented, a plan that provides a productive future for both the species and local communities."

Enzi also pointed out that even though the wolf is listed as a federally protected endangered species now, there isn't enough federal money for the state to cover all the costs. Wyoming is paying many of the costs associated with managing the wolf and Enzi believes the state should be allowed to manage the wolf according to practices that best fit the communities affected by wolves.