By CAROL RYAN DUMAS

Capital Press

An attempt Tuesday by Idaho Republican Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch to pass legislation that would remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species list failed.

The senators offered S. 3919 for unanimous consent, but a single objection by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-MD., ended consideration of the bill.

The chances were "slim to none" the senators would win unanimous consent, said Lindsay Nothern, press secretary for Crapo, when the senators' camps were laying out their strategy.

"This is less about wolves and more about messing with the ESA (Endangered Species Act)," he said.

"Unfortunately, and despite their recovery, we have not been able to return management of wolves to the states, due to litigation and the inflexibility of the Endangered Species Act," Crapo said in a press release. "In the meantime, large increases in wolf populations are resulting in substantial harm to our big game herds and domestic livestock."

Cardin's objection likely ends any action on delisting wolves for the rest of the session, Nothern said.

Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Bob Bennett, R- Utah, John Barrasso, R-WY, and Mike Enzi, R-WY, joined Crapo and Risch is asking for Senate approval