Biden Administration Moves To Remove Endangered Species Act Protections For Gray Wolves

In some very upsetting news, the Biden administration has requested that an appeals court reinstate a Trump-era rule that removed the last remaining Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the United States.

If granted, this request would place oversight of these keystone species under state jurisdiction. The rule would allow hunting to resume in the Great Lakes region, where it was halted two years ago by court order.

Environmentalists achieved a significant victory by successfully suing the U.S. government after protections for wolves were lifted during the final days of former President Trump’s administration.

On Friday, the Biden administration took its first explicit action to reinstate the rule by filing with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Protections will remain in effect while the court reviews the case.

The court filing follows years of political conflict over the repopulation of wolves in parts of the western U.S., due to livestock predation. Studies and reports from various sources indicate that wolves are responsible for less than 1% of total livestock deaths.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other wildlife management agencies have found that while wolves occasionally prey on livestock, their impact is minimal compared to other causes of livestock mortality, such as disease, accidents, and other predators.

Wolves once roamed North America in vast numbers, with an estimated population of around 2 million. However, a federal extermination program drastically reduced their numbers, bringing them close to extinction. By the 1960s, gray wolves were granted protection under the precursor to the Endangered Species Act. At that point, they had been wiped out from the contiguous United States, surviving only in Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park and a small section of Minnesota. Their near-extinction resulted from unjust hunting and aggressive eradication efforts.

A powerful testament to the significance of wolves can be found in their reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park on January 12th, 1995. On this day, eight wolves were carefully transported from Canada to Yellowstone. Between 1995 and 1997, a total of 41 wolves were released into the park. This was a historic moment that underscored the crucial role these keystone species play in maintaining the balance of nature.

The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone led to profound and unexpected changes. By rebalancing elk and deer populations, wolves allowed willows and aspen to regenerate, which in turn stabilized riverbanks and redirected river flows. This ecological shift resulted in the return of songbirds, beavers, eagles, foxes, and badgers. Despite the $30 million investment in their restoration, wolves have proven economically beneficial as well, with wolf-related ecotourism generating $35 million annually. Their presence is vital not only for ecological balance, but also as a significant driver of economic and environmental health.

Safeguarding wolves is essential for the health and well-being of our planet. Maintaining their protection demonstrates our commitment to preserving the intricate web of life they support. We must continue our efforts to ensure their recovery and survival for future generations to come.

Help protect gray wolves by supporting the #RelistWolves Campaign, HERE!