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Conservation groups to sue over wolverine decision

This undated photo provided by Defenders Of Wildlife shows a wolverine that had been tagged for research purposes in Glacier National Park, Mont. Federal officials will announce Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014 that wolverines do not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act in a finding that underscores the difficulties of using climate models to predict what could happen to a species decades from now. (AP Photo/Defenders of Wildlife, Ken Curtis) This undated photo provided by Defenders Of Wildlife shows a wolverine that had been tagged for research purposes in Glacier National Park, Mont. Federal officials will announce Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014 that wolverines do not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act in a finding that underscores the difficulties of using climate models to predict what could happen to a species decades from now. (AP Photo/Defenders of Wildlife, Ken Curtis)

By Associated Press August 13, 2014 1 min read

HELENA, Mont. (AP) – A coalition of 13 conservation groups has filed notice that it will sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its decision to withdraw proposed protections for the wolverine.

The federal agency announced Tuesday it was reversing course on climate change’s threat to the survival of the members of the weasel family.

Wolverines need deep, late-season snow to den, and wildlife officials previously proposed increased protections to keep the animals from extinction.

But Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe says predictions about the localized effects of climate change are uncertain.

The 13 organizations filed their 60-day notice Wednesday.