"The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said Tuesday that it will not reclassify the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act.

Conservation groups led by the Humane Society had pushed the service to reclassify the wolf from endangered to threatened species status, which comes with fewer federal protections.

Some members of Congress have pushed legislation to declassify the wolf altogether, warning that the animal threatens ranching operations. The conservation groups had hoped reclassification would discourage Congress from removing those protections."

Devin Henry reports for The Hill June 30, 2015. [2]