Misleadingly Named ‘Pet and Livestock Protection Act’ Ignores Science, Subverts Courts

The House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources on Wednesday is expected to take up the misleadingly named “Pet and Livestock Protection Act” which if enacted would delist gray wolves in the Lower 48 from the Endangered Species Act. Introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), the bill would also eliminate the ability to challenge the delisting in court.

“This bill does not really protect pets and livestock; instead, it harms wolves and ignores both science and the courts which have repeatedly affirmed that wolves need federal protections to have a chance at recovery in the Lower 48,” said Ellen Richmond, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. “We denounce this bill in the strongest terms possible and are dismayed that our elected officials are playing political football with one of the country’s most beloved animals.”

In 2017, during the first Trump administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a rule completely stripping gray wolves in the Lower 48 of ESA protections, alleging that the species had successfully recovered, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting that decision. In response, Defenders and allies went to court to fight the decision. In February 2022, a judge sided with Defenders and ESA protections for the gray wolf were restored.

In contrast to what the bill’s title suggests, 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 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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