Image: Gray wolves John Flesher  /  AP These gray wolves are
among the 4,000 estimated in the Great Lakes region around
Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. staff and news service
reports updated 12/21/2011 1:13:51 PM ET 2011-12-21T18:13:51
The gray wolf populations in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin
have recovered from near extinction and as a result will be
removed from the endangered species list, the Obama
administration announced Wednesday.  Citing a "robust, self-
sustaining wolf population" in those states, the Fish and
Wildlife Service finalized a proposal first made last May. The
formal delisting will take place next month.  The decision
follows a trend of the federal government wanting to get out of
the wolf protection business after devoting four decades and
tens of millions of dollars to saving the species.  Instead,
individual states are being given control over the future of the
legendary predator.  Wolf populations will be monitored for at
least five years and can be relisted at any time if it