The War On Wolves Continues: Lawmakers Push To Strip Gray Wolves Of Endangered Species Protections

In a deeply troubling move, Rep. Jack Bergman and two dozen other members of Congress are urging U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Brian Nesvik to once again remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act.

Their letter, filled with misleading claims, pushes the dangerous narrative that wolves have “fully recovered” and that it’s time to turn their management back over to the states, the same states where thousands of wolves have already been brutally killed.

In another major setback for wolves, USFWS announced this week that it will no longer move forward with a nationwide recovery plan for gray wolves, abandoning a long-anticipated effort that was expected to be released in December.

In its statement, the agency asserted that, “both listed gray wolf entities are no longer in need of conservation under the Act due to recovery. We therefore conclude that recovery plans for these two entities would not promote their conservation.”

The truth is, wolves are not even close to being recovered. Across the northern Rockies, they continue to be trapped, hunted, and slaughtered under state-sanctioned “management” programs that allow extreme killing methods, including cruel snares.

These are not the signs of a species that has “thrived” or “surpassed recovery goals,” as the lawmakers’ press release falsely claims. These are the signs of a species still fighting for survival in a system stacked against them.

“The American public overwhelmingly supports gray wolves. A recent survey found that 75% of rural residents in states with known wolf populations favor continued protection of gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act. Members of Congress from these states should represent the interests of their constituents—not cater to the demands of private industry,” said Regan Downey, director of education and advocacy at the Wolf Conservation Center, in a statement to WAN.

The letter insists that delisting wolves is “science-based,” but the science it cites is cherry-picked and politically motivated. True conservationists, scientists, and wildlife experts overwhelmingly agree that wolves remain ecologically vulnerable and genetically fragile, especially given their fragmented populations across the lower 48 states.

Every major scientific review has shown that wolves have not yet returned to large portions of their historic range, nor have they reached stable population levels capable of ensuring long-term survival without federal protection. The claim that they are “self-sustaining” ignores decades of research and the grim reality of their ongoing persecution.

“American wildlife is being manipulated as a political pawn and used as a political distraction. At a time when Congress should be focused on reopening our government and ensuring that American families can access affordable healthcare and food, Republican leaders are instead prioritizing efforts to dismantle vital environmental protections,” said Leslie Williams and Samantha Attwood, founding members of Team Wolf. “This latest push to delist wolves ignores the overwhelming scientific evidence that the species is not yet fully recovered. Removing protections now would jeopardize the delicate balance wolves maintain in the ecosystems they support and dismantle years of conservation efforts.”

“The protection of wolves and our nation’s keystone species is a responsibility that transcends political parties. Saving them is our moral duty. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle must rise above partisan lines to ensure that wolves, and the fragile ecosystems they inhabit, remain safeguarded under the Endangered Species Act. The time to act is now, and the consequences of inaction are far too great to ignore. It is imperative that wolves remain protected across the United States,” stated Katie Cleary, President and Founder of WAN & Peace 4 Animals.

Where wolves exist, ecosystems flourish. They regulate prey populations, safeguard vegetation, and create conditions for countless other species to thrive. Without them, the balance of our wild landscapes is disrupted, leading to overgrazing, soil erosion, and a dramatic loss of biodiversity.

This latest attack on wolves is part of a broader, ongoing effort to dismantle the Endangered Species Act. If lawmakers succeed in delisting them, it will open the floodgates to more killing, more suffering, and the potential collapse of fragile packs still struggling to recover from centuries of persecution.

Join countless wildlife advocates across the country standing up against this relentless assault. Urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reject this reckless proposal and keep wolves protected under the Endangered Species Act. Send Message HERE!

You can take action today by visiting TeamWolf.org