The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tuesday announced it was proposing listing the wolverine as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the contiguous United States, a move that has been years in the making.

The  wolverine is a medium-sized carnivore found within the Northern Rocky Mountains and North Cascade Mountains in the contiguous U.S. and alpine regions, boreal forests, and tundra of Alaska and Canada. Wolverines are snow-adapted, cold-climate, territorial animals with large home ranges. The listing does not apply to Alaska or Canada.

Glacier National Park is a bastion for the species — with an estimated population of about 50 animals.

The battle over ESA protections for the species, which is a relative of the weasel and the skunk, has gone on for 20 years.

There’s an estimated 300 or so wolverines left in the Lower 48 states.

The move was heralded by the Western Environmental Law Center, an environmental group that has long sought protections for the species.

“Wildlife conservation groups have twice successfully challenged the Service in federal court for relying on flawed science to deny wolverines Endangered Species Act protections. The court most recently ordered the Service to make a new decision by Nov. 30 resulting in today’s threatened listing determination,” the organization noted in a press release.

“I’m glad the Fish and Wildlife Service finally ignored the misplaced policy concerns raised by states like Idaho, Wyoming, and even Montana over the last decade, and made a listing decision based solely on the best available science,” Matthew Bishop, attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center said. “Wolverines can’t wait another year or two for the long-overdue protections they deserve. That said, we are concerned about  the allowances for trapping in wolverine habitat, and we will be taking a closer look at that. We doubt it’s possible to trap without the risk of take. Wolverines—a crucial species for many ecosystems throughout the western U.S.—deserve the fullest protections possible. Given the small population and climate change quickly shrinking the snowy habitat wolverines rely on to survive, time is of the essence.”

The groups did, however, express concern about the listing rule, which would still allow for trapping in wolverine habitat. Wolverines are known to rob traplines and in doing so, get trapped themselves.

“We appreciate that the Fish and Wildlife Service finally listed wolverines as threatened but their 4d rule, which allows trapping in wolverine habitat, is a road map for extinction, not recovery,” said Mike Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. “Wolverines are scavengers and will continue to be taken if trapping is allowed to continue. The Fish and Wildlife Service needs to follow the law like all Americans are required to do and come up with a plan to recover wolverines.”

In 2013, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the North American wolverine in the contiguous U.S. as threatened under the ESA. In 2020, after reevaluating the wolverine’s status, the Service determined listing the wolverine was not warranted. In 2022, the District Court of Montana vacated that decision, requiring the wolverine to be reconsidered for listing under the ESA.

A 60-day comment period begins Nov. 30 and comments must be received by Jan. 29, 2024. The proposal and information on how to submit comments can be found at http://www.regulations.gov/ by searching under docket number FWS–R6–ES–2012–0107.