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MISSOULA - U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy is telling attorneys for environmental groups and wildlife management agencies to gather their data and help resolve whether gray wolves should still be an "experimental species" in the Northern Rockies.

When wolves were re-introduced in Central Idaho and Yellowstone Park in the mid-90s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had them designated as an "experimental, non-essential" species.

That allowed scientists to work on re-building wolf populations and gauging their survival, but also answered ranchers' concerns by allowing wolves that preyed on livestock to be killed.

The question over whether the wolves are still "experimental" has never been completely resolved. The federal government has said it has no plans to change the designation until the wolves are taken off the Endangered Species List.

The Fish and Wildlife Service, along with Idaho and Montana, attempted to take Idaho and Montana wolves off the list 2-years ago. Last summer Molloy ordered protection to be re-instated.

Environmental groups are still fighting over the question. Friday, Molloy issued an order telling both sides to present arguments answering whether today's wolves are still experimental populations, or whether they have cross-bred in the three recovery areas in Wyoming, Idaho, and in Northwestern Montana with wolves from Canada.

Molloy ordered legal briefs to be filed by February 22nd.

Click here to read a copy of Judge Molloy's latest order on wolves