BOISE -- Wolf advocates and Idaho officials had decidedly different reactions after a federal judge restored Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains.

Gov. Butch Otter and other state officials criticized the decision, saying Idaho's wolf-population is 1,000 strong and is in no danger of returning to extinction.

Otter spokesman Mark Warbis says, "The state of Idaho has developed a sound and responsible plan for managing wolves to maintain a sustainable population."

Meanwhile, groups including Defenders of Wildlife which had sued to restore federal protection were elated.

Suzanne Stone, a spokeswoman for the group, says, "I don't think you can print whooping and hollering.

This will enable the wolf population to remain stable and not be eradicated during the time that this lawsuit is reviewed, and that's the most important thing that we were hoping for."