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Wildlife advocates and the U.S. Department of the Interior reached a settlement in a lawsuit regarding wolf management. The deal will remove wolves from the Endangered Species Act in Montana and Idaho.

But not all groups involved in the lawsuit are settling.

The settlement reached Friday keeps wolves on the endangered species list in Wyoming, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Montana and Idaho would regain state management control over wolves, including the ability to hunt the animals.

"It's a compromise," said Greater Yellowstone Coalition Communications Director Jeff Welsch. The GYC is one of the groups settling. "But it's a step forward in managing wolves in the Northern Rockies."

Court rulings have blocked prior efforts to lift the species' endangered status, but the wildlife groups suing to keep wolves listed worry about Montana's Congressional delegation. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Rep. Denny Rehberg have shown support for legislation changing the Endangered Species Act itself to remove wolves. The groups did not want to be responsible for that precedent.

"We've all been clear that we've wanted to avoid any challenges to the Endangered Species Act, or the integrity of the Endangered Species Act," Welsch said.

Still, the groups settling say they would not be moving forward if they thought the settlement was bad for wolves. Or at least, that's the opinion of 10 of the wildlife groups suing. Four others are still carrying out the lawsuit. The Alliance for the Wild Rockies is one of those groups. Board of Directors member, Steve Kelly described the settlement as giving up after the "hard fought" Molloy decision.

"We just don't feel we have any choice but to stick with what we do have which is a court ruling that favors wolves in the long term," Kelly said.

The settlement now moves back to Judge Molloy for his consideration.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer calls the settlement a significant step forward.

"Montana must have the ability to manage wildlife," Schweitzer said, "to do our job, to seek a balance among predator and prey. We need the authority to respond to the challenges wolves present every day."