The Endangered Species Act is a generally useful thing. It's protected loads of animals, bugs, and other critters from going extinct since its inception that otherwise would not have been protected. And the way that it succeeded in keeping multiple species alive should be applauded.
But in recent years, governmental bureaucracy caused by increased layers and lack of funding—caused by both sides of the aisle—has created an agency that's far too slow to react. It's created log jams and paperwork and too many cooks in the kitchen, so much so that animals that should be delisted thanks to the hard work of conservationists, biologists, funds through Pittman-Robertson, and more, still maintain their threatened statuses. Look at grizzlies in Montana.
The latest issue revolving around the Endangered Species Act is one affecting Idaho where a new snowmobile management plan was set to be enacted. Only, at the very last minute, the plan is now out the door after the US Fish and Wildlife Service called the plan into question over a little critter known as the wolverine.
