Groups Opposed to Minnesota Wolf Hunt Lose in Court

ST. PAUL (AP) - A pair of groups that challenged Minnesota rules for a state wolf hunting and trapping season has been dealt another blow in court.

Minnesota's Court of Appeals on Tuesday dismissed a petition aiming to undo rules that allowed for a wolf hunting season, the first of which was held starting in November.

The appeals judges decided that the Center for Biological Diversity and Howling for Wolves lacked sufficient legal standing to challenge the Department of Natural Resources rules.

Minnesota resumed sport hunting and trapping after the region's wolves came off the endangered list early last year. Hunters and trappers then killed 413 wolves during the state's first wolf season, which ended in January.

A bill seeking to impose a five-year moratorium on wolf hunts stalled during the Legislature's just-completed session.