Defenders of Wildlife is sounding the alarm over the intentionally misleadingly-named Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025, which aims to prematurely delist gray wolves in the Lower 48 from the Endangered Species Act. Introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), the bill removes science from the federal endangered species list and plays on communities’ love for pets and livestock to curry public support.
“This bill is deceptively named and if enacted will directly undermine our nation’s landmark conservation laws,” said Ellen Richmond, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. “Wolves play important roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems, and cutting short their recovery not only harms the species but also the incredible landscapes we all love.”
In contrast to what the bill’s title leads one to believe, more livestock are lost to weather than to wolves each year. Non-lethal deterrent tools have a proven track record of keeping wolves away from livestock and pets when implemented correctly. Defenders of Wildlife works with livestock producers throughout regions that are home to wolves to implement a wide variety of non-lethal deterrent tools to protect livestock and pets.
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For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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