REGIONAL— Minnesota’s wolf population will continue to enjoy federal protection for the foreseeable future after a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld a lower court decision that threw out a de-listing plan for the species in 2014.

The decision, issued Aug. 1, means the eastern gray wolf will continue to be listed as threatened in Minnesota, a status that will prevent state officials from managing the species, such as through a hunting or trapping season. The ruling means Minnesotans cannot legally kill a wolf, except in the defense of human life.

The case dates back to late 2011, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan from protection under the Endangered Species Act. Federal wildlife officials argued that wolves, after nearly being hunted to extinction, had fully recovered in the upper Great Lakes region. In Minnesota, the wolf population has exceeded 2,000 animals for more than 20 years. The latest survey showed a population of about 2,400 wolves. The 2011 decision handed management of wolves back to the three states. Minnesota promptly instituted a limited hunting and trapping season, but a federal district court judge ended the taking of wolves by throwing out the de-listing plan three years later. This week’s ruling upheld that decision.

“We’re disappointed and frustrated with the ruling because it further delays and keeps the wolf on the endangered species list when in fact they have fully met their recovery criteria for more than two decades,” said Minnesota Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Chris Niskanen.

The appellate court’s ruling, while maintaining federal management of wolves, did find Minnesota’s wolf management plan, which sets a minimum population in the state of 1,600 animals, to be reasonable.

“That’s good news,” said Niskanen.

Minnesota Public Radio’s Dan Kraker contributed reporting for this story.