How The ‘Pet and Livestock Protection Act’ Could Dismantle Gray Wolf Protections In The U.S.

The reintroduced “Pet and Livestock Protection Act” in the U.S. House of Representatives may sound like it was designed to safeguard animals. However, beneath its seemingly compassionate title lies a deeply concerning agenda that threatens the survival of one of our nation’s most iconic species—the gray wolf.

Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Minocqua) and other GOP lawmakers have reintroduced this bill to strip federal protections from gray wolves across most of the country. Tiffany co-sponsored the legislation alongside Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and 30 other legislators, including Wisconsin’s GOP congressional delegation.

If passed, the bill would remove Endangered Species Act protections from approximately 4,400 wolves in the Great Lakes region and nearly 2,800 wolves across seven western states, leaving them vulnerable to hunting and state-led management. This reckless move could have disastrous repercussions for a species that has only just begun to recover after decades of persecution.

“Science, not Congress, should be the decision-maker when it comes to endangered and threatened species. Preventing judicial review would continue a damaging trend of Congress undermining the ability of Americans to seek out justice and defend our civil rights, public health, and environment,” Regan Downey, Director of Education for the Wolf Conservation Center, told WAN.

Less than 1% of sheep and cattle deaths are attributed to gray wolves. In fact, domestic dogs account for a higher number of farm animal deaths than all wild animals combined. Why, then, does this bill, created to safeguard farm animals, target gray wolves—a species vital to maintaining ecological balance in the U.S.?

Gray wolves have historically been an integral part of our ecosystem in North America, but were nearly eradicated in the early 20th century due to relentless hunting. Their reintroduction is a significant victory for conservation, highlighting the essential role wolves play in enhancing biodiversity.

Removing these crucial protections would not only reverse decades of conservation success but also potentially unleash a domino effect of disruption, further jeopardizing ecosystems that rely on the presence of wolves to thrive.

“Last year, Tiffany and Boebert introduced an identical bill called the ‘Trust the Science Act,’ which failed in the Senate. No matter what they want to call it, this is still just another deceptive attempt to turn back the clock on gray wolf recovery efforts and pave the way for unnecessary slaughter of a species that is vital to our ecosystem,” said Leslie Williams and Samantha Attwood, founding members of Team Wolf.

The motives behind the “Pet and Livestock Protection Act” seem to be fueled more by fear and politics rather than scientific data. In areas where wolves have made a comeback, ranchers have successfully implemented non-lethal strategies—including the use of guardian dogs, improved fencing, and herding practices—to mitigate wildlife conflicts. These methods promote peaceful coexistence, proving that the protection of farm animals does not require the elimination of wolves.

The “Pet and Livestock Protection Act” presents a significant threat under the guise of animal welfare. By weakening safeguards for gray wolves using deceptive measures, the bill has the potential to disrupt ecological balance. It is crucial that we safeguard our wildlife and natural ecosystems through legislation that genuinely protects rather than deceives, unlike this newly proposed anti-wolf bill.