By the hair of their chinny-chin-chins, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to remove gray wolves from federal protections under the Endangered Species Act across the Lower 48 states, marking a significant step in a decades-long debate over wolf management.
The Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845), sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), cleared the House yesterday, by a vote of 211-204. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a 2020 rule that delisted gray wolves (excluding the Mexican gray wolf subspecies) and includes provisions to block judicial review, aiming to end the onslaught of repeated court challenges.
“The Pet and Livestock Protection Act reflects a commonsense approach that has been recognized across administrations of both parties, including Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden,” Rep. Tom Tiffany said. “The gray wolf has recovered, and Wisconsin should be allowed to responsibly manage a population that has exceeded recovery goals without interference from out-of-state judges.”
Despite being nearly eradicated from the contiguous United States by the mid-20th century due to hunting and habitat loss, the gray wolf has since made a remarkable comeback. Protected under the ESA since 1974 and reintroduced in key areas like Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s, wolf populations have rebounded dramatically to an estimated 6,000+ animals in the Lower 48.
Proponents, including ranchers, hunters, and Republican lawmakers, argue that wolves have far exceeded recovery goals. "This is a genuine conservation success story," said Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), an early cosponsor. Groups like the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and Hunter Nation hailed the vote as a victory for state-led management and rural livelihoods, citing increasing livestock depredation and threats to pets.
“Restoring the 2020 wolf delisting through the Pet and Livestock Protection Act will give management decisions and certainty back to cattle producers, who are suffering financially and emotionally from wolf depredations that increase every year,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein. “NCBA extends our gratitude to Congress for passing this legislation and urge the Senate to act.
Rep. Tom Tiffany and Rep. Lauren Boebert
During floor speeches, Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR) highlighted the economic and emotional toll on ranchers, showing photos of mauled calves. The Department of the Interior has expressed support for delisting, stating that continued federal listing is "unreasonable" based on current science.
Conservation organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity, condemned the bill as a politicization of the ESA (wait…what?), arguing that wolves occupy only a fraction of their historic range and remain vulnerable in many areas. Past state-managed hunts, such as Wisconsin's 2021 season where over 200 wolves were killed in days, are cited as evidence of potential overharvesting.
The legislation is now on its way to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. Similar measures have stalled there in the past, and passage may require 60 votes to overcome potential filibusters.
“The science has been clear for years: gray wolves are fully recovered, and their resurgence deserves to be celebrated as a true conservation success story,” Congresswoman Lauren Boebert said. “It’s long past time to delist them and empower states to set their own management policies. I can’t wait for President Trump to sign this bill into law.”
