The Biden administration has requested an appeals court to reinstate a Trump-era rule that removed Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the U.S. This move would place the predators under state oversight nationwide and potentially allow hunting to resume in the Great Lakes region, where it was previously halted under court order. Environmentalists had previously challenged the removal of protections for wolves during the Trump administration’s final days in office. The court filing with the 9th U.S. District Court of Appeals marks the Biden administration’s first step towards reviving this rule, with protections remaining in place pending the court’s decision.
Efforts to lift or reduce protections for wolves have been ongoing for over two decades, with each administration facing legal challenges when attempting to declare the species as recovered. Gray wolves were nearly eradicated in the mid-1900s due to trapping and poisoning campaigns, leading to federal protections being granted in 1974. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has faced numerous court battles over the status of wolf populations in different regions of the country. The agency aims to balance wolf recovery with the concerns of those who live and work in areas where wolves are present, leading to ongoing conflicts between conservation groups and livestock and hunting organizations, which support state oversight of wolves.
The Biden administration’s decision to seek reinstatement of the Trump-era rule has drawn criticism from environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity. Opponents argue that removing protections for wolves can lead to setbacks in their recovery, while proponents believe that state oversight will allow for better management of wolf populations. Efforts to restore wolves to their historic range have been limited to specific regions, with federal officials agreeing to develop a national recovery plan by 2025. The outcome of the court case will determine the future of gray wolf management in the U.S., with the government’s position being that the species is no longer in danger of extinction, as stated by U.S. Department of Justice attorneys in the court filing.
A 2022 ruling that restored protections for gray wolves cited the government’s failure to demonstrate the sustainability of wolf populations in certain regions and to address threats to wolves outside core areas. The Great Lakes region and states in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest are home to significant wolf populations, with some states already having jurisdiction over wolf management. However, conflicts have arisen over hunting practices, with concerns about exceeding harvest goals and the potential impact on wolf populations. The Biden administration’s decision not to restore protections for gray wolves in the northern Rockies region has also faced legal challenges, with state lawmakers expressing a desire to cull more wolf packs despite federal officials determining that the predators are not at risk of being wiped out entirely.
In addition to gray wolves, the U.S. is also home to struggling populations of red wolves in the mid-Atlantic region and Mexican wolves in the Southwest, both of which are protected as endangered species. The ongoing debate over wolf management reflects broader tensions between conservation efforts and the interests of livestock and hunting industries, as well as differing perspectives on the role of federal and state oversight in wildlife management. The outcome of the court case will have significant implications for the future of wolf conservation and management in the U.S., as different stakeholders continue to advocate for their positions on the issue.
