"It has taken us 20 years to get to this point. It is the undersigned's view that if there is one thing required of the Service under the ESA, it is to take action at the earliest possible, defensible point in time to protect against the loss of biodiversity within our reach as a nation.

"For the wolverine, that time is now."

FWS public affairs specialist Serena Baker said the agency was reviewing the order and did not have comment. Late Monday afternoon, Baker could not immediately say how much time the agency needed to issue a decision consistent with the judge's order.

State wildlife managers of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming also supported the no-listing decision.

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In a statement, Bethany Cotton of WildEarth Guardians lauded the decision as a win for science that rippled beyond the wolverine.

"Today's win is a victory not just for wolverine, but for all species whose fate relies on the scientific integrity of the Fish and Wildlife Service," said Cotton, wildlife program director. "We called on the agency to stop playing politics and start living up to its mandate to protect our country's most imperiled species."