protected species

After pushback and some bold, albeit unsuccessful, amendments along its legislative journey, a proposal to change how otters are classified in Wyoming passed its final vote on Tuesday with no discussion and little fanfare. University of Wyoming professor and North American river otter expert Merav Ben-David also opposed the idea of doing away with the mustelids's protected status. She thought it premature given that otters were trapped out of existence during the settlement era and remain scarce or absent in much of Wyoming. The version of HB45 adopted by both the House and the Senate changes a single word of Wyoming statute, striking otters from the list of protected species. Upon the governor’s signature, it would take effect immediately.