On December 18, the House of Representatives passed the Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845), which would remove the gray wolf from protections under the Endangered Species Act and return wildlife management authority to the states. The measure directs the Department of the Interior to reissue a 2020 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule delisting the gray wolf, except for the Mexican wolf subspecies, and bars judicial review of the delisting decision. The measure is now in the Senate and has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Supporters, led by bill sponsor Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO), argue that gray wolf populations have recovered and that federal protections have constrained states’ ability to manage impacts on livestock and rural communities. Supporters also contend that the bill would prevent repeated litigation from overturning agency decisions based on scientific findings. Farm, hunting, and sportsmen’s groups broadly support the legislation.
Many Democrats and conservation groups oppose the bill, arguing it prematurely removes federal protections and disregards scientific evidence showing continued vulnerability in parts of the wolf’s historic range. They warn that barring judicial review and shifting management to states could lead to population decline and future federal re-listing. The bill’s prospects are uncertain, as similar gray wolf delisting measures have passed the House in prior years, but were not taken up by the Senate.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.