Sen. Al Franken pressed U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for federal funding to help manage the gray wolf population in Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR developed a plan to manage the gray wolf population after it was taken off the endangered species list in December. However, the the state DNR needs the support of federal funds to effectively execute the plan.
 
“Getting the gray wolf removed from the endangered species list was a win for farmers across the state,” said Sen. Franken. “And Minnesota has a good plan in place to manage the population now that the wolf’s been delisted, but it can only execute this plan with adequate financial support.  I relayed that information to Secretary Salazar this morning and urged him to provide Minnesota with the necessary funding as soon as possible.”
 
In 2010, Sen. Franken wrote to the head of the FWS, urging removal of the gray wolf from the endangered species list because wolf population numbers in the Western Great Lakes area have exceeded recovery goals and continue to thrive. Last October, Sen. Franken successfully pressed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund federal management of the gray wolf population until the animal could be taken off the endangered species list.