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MISSOULA - The contentious issue of wolves in the Northern Rockies returns to a Missoula federal courtroom on Tuesday morning.

Judge Donald Molloy will hear arguments from 13 environmental and conservation groups that want him to return wolves to federal protection.

They claim the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made a mistake by delisting wolves in Montana and Idaho, but not in Wyoming. They also say a recovered population should range in number from 2,000 to 5,000 wolves.

Federal and state wildlife managers say there are a minimum of 1,700 wolves across the Northern Rockies right now and that number far exceeds the original federal goal of 300 total wolves.

Hunters and other wildlife groups are expected to show up to protest in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Missoula.