Defenders Responds to FWS Steps to Remove Gray Wolf ESA Protections

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week took steps toward dismantling Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves, seeking to revive a Trump-era rule Defenders of Wildlife successfully challenged in court.  

“Wolves have made monumental progress toward recovery but have yet to re-establish sustainable populations in much of the available habitat across the Lower 48,” said Ellen Richmond, senior attorney at Defenders. “Delisting at this time would set us on a backward trajectory, imperiling the species before it’s made a full recovery.”  

The administration filed an opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Friday, continuing a long-standing effort by FWS to eliminate gray wolf protections that dates back to the early 2000s. Federal safeguards are critical to maintain progress on gray wolf recovery and restore them to the places they are just beginning to re-inhabit.

Removing ESA protections could reopen wolf hunting in some regions, destabilizing populations unnecessarily. When protections were last lifted, wolves were hunted in large numbers in some states.  

The gray wolf is currently listed as endangered in the Lower 48, threatened in Minnesota, and is not listed in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming and portions of Washington, Oregon and Utah.

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