UPDATE: Feds to Drop Great Lakes Wolf Listing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota officials are welcoming the federal government's decision to drop gray wolves in the Great Lakes region from the federal endangered species list as of Jan. 27.

Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr says his agency is ready to take over management of Minnesota's wolf population from the federal government. The state has about 3,000 wolves.

DNR Fish and Wildlife Director Ed Boggess says a wolf hunting and trapping season could begin as early as this fall but details are still being worked out. The DNR hasn't decided yet what the harvest levels would be.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says Minnesota has about double the number of wolves it should have, and they're killing livestock and pets, so it was time for them to come off the endangered list.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)