On Monday afternoon, the U.S. Senate came close to recognizing the conservation success of gray wolves. After decades of recovery efforts, wolf populations have exceeded recovery goals and now thrive across the lower 48 states, Canada, and Alaska. Yet federal protections remain in place after years of litigation overturning science-based delisting decisions.
SCI thanks Senator Ron Johnson for his leadership in advancing science-based wildlife management and submitting a bill that would have reinstated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s rule removing gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act lists for unanimous consent. SCI is disappointed that an objection by Senator Cory Booker blocked this effort to restore state management authority for recovered wolf populations. Wildlife professionals, ranchers, hunters, and rural communities continue to face growing challenges as wolf populations expand, including livestock losses, increased conflicts, and impacts on big game herds in some regions.
SCI urges the Senate to take up S. 1306, legislation that would remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act and return management authority to the states.
