Bill would exempt wolves from federal protection

Environmental groups ready to challenge legislation that would classify wolves as predators- By BEN NEARY, Associated Press 

U.S. senators from Wyoming, Idaho and Utah are proposing legislation that would strip wolves in the northern Rockies of federal endangered species protection. 

The legislation unveiled Thursday is the latest in a series of recent bills that generally are aimed at short-circuiting legal opposition from environmental groups opposed to seeing an end to federal wolf protections. 

Much of the environmentalists' concern has centered on Wyoming, where the state has proposed classifying wolves as predators that could be shot on sight in most areas. 

Wyoming officials say they would welcome removing federal protections. But environmental groups promise stiff opposition to any congressional effort to sidestep the Endangered Species Act and offer wolves less protection.