Comment Period Extended for Alexander Archipelago Wolf and Queen Charlotte Goshawk

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is requesting information, comments and suggestions from the public, the scientific community and concerned government agencies or other interested parties to re-evaluate the status of the Queen Charlotte goshawk and the Alexander Archipelago wolf. The comment period for both species has been extended to end on March 7, 1997.

On December 17, 1993, the Service received a petition to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, (Act) and on May 9, 1994, the Service received a petition to list the Queen Charlotte goshawk as endangered under the Act. The Service issued findings on both species indicating that listing under the Act was not warranted.

Petitioners sued the Service challenging the "not warranted findings," and as a result of court orders, the Service is re-evaluating the status of both the wolf and the goshawk.

After considering the available scientific and commercial data on the two species and their habitats, the Service will issue new 12-month findings on the petitions to list. The Service will issue separate findings for each species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Both the wolf and the goshawk occur in the old growth forests in southeast Alaska. The petitioners have claimed that the wolf and the goshawk may be in danger of extinction because of logging activities that have occurred and are planned to occur in the forest of southeast Alaska.

Comments and materials regarding this evaluation should be sent to Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Vintage Blvd. Suite 201, Juneau, Alaska 99801-7100. For further information contact Connie Barclay at (907) 786-3309.

FWS