Dec 18, 2013 12:18 PM EST By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

The decision on whether to grant wolverines endangered species status has been delayed once more, according to an announcement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) on Tuesday. Ten months ago, the federal wildlife organization offered to protect wolverines on the continental United States, but state wildlife groups opposed the ruling for a variety of reasons. Most generally, they wanted control of wolverine populations so their residents could continue to hunt the bear-like weasels (in a controlled way and for their furs). State organizations also felt the FWS's justifications were largely based on climate change, which some don't interpret as legitimate science. Likely, there are deeper and more nuanced reasons for the state's opposition that aren't apparent in local news articles and government press releases.

Clearly, one or more of the states' arguments is something to be considered, based on the FWS' statement that "there is substantial scientific disagreement regarding the sufficiency or accuracy of the available data relevant to the decision at issue."

Tuesday's ruling will be the third time the FWS has delayed the decision. Following the initial announcement in February was a 90-day comment period, inviting argument, evidence, and scientific research from both sides. That period was extended to October, when another two months were added and a final decision was slated for Dec. 2. Tuesday marks the third extension, which will last for six months until August 2014, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Both the FWS and the states seem to agree on the number of wolverines left in the continental United States -- between 250-300 -- but the states don't necessarily agree that diminishing snow-containing terrain, on which the animals spend at least five months of the year and have a huge speed advantage because of the design of their feet, has affected the population.

If the wolverines truly need protection, it won't be the first time. They were eliminated from the continental U.S. prior to the 1920s, but populations in Canada slowly made their way towards Montana, Utah, Oregon, and other states in that region, according to the FWS. The world's largest and most ferocious weasel (they've been known to take down caribous and moose) is also present in China, Estonia, Finland, Mongolia, Norway, Russian Federation, and Sweden, and numbers between 15,000 and 30,000 worldwide, according to pbs.org.

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