Washington, D.C. – Today, Acting U.S. Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced a proposal to lift federal protections for the iconic and ecologically vital gray wolf across the lower 48 states. Born Free USA strongly opposes this attempt to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and return management to the states and tribes.
This decision is the latest in a long line of attempts by the Trump Administration—which has also sought to undermine protections for both Yellowstone grizzly bears and sage grouse—to slash protections for the environment, wildlife, and the Endangered Species Act, the strongest backstop we have to preventing extinction.
According to Angela Grimes, Acting CEO for Born Free USA:
“Because of the Endangered Species Act, gray wolves have started the process of recovery. However, much work remains before the gray wolf can be truly hailed as a ‘conservation success.’ Wolves are still functionally extinct in the vast majority of places where they used to live and in what viable habitat still remains today. This move is nothing but another attempt by the Trump Administration to appease special interest groups. As we have done many times before, we will fight for the survival of the gray wolf, an icon of our landscape and the lynchpin for many of our most treasured ecosystems.”
The proposed rule would return management authority over to the states, several of which are startingly hostile to wolves and their continued recovery. In Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming—states where wolves have already lost federal protections—trophy hunters, trappers, and others have killed nearly 3,500 wolves since 2011. Just last December, it was reported that Wyoming was allowing wolves to be killed year-round by any method throughout the majority of the state, regardless of how cruel or gruesome, including chasing and mowing wolves down with snowmobiles. Such tactics fly in the face of true sportsmanship and conservation and speak to the need for continued protection under the ESA.
Wolves are the wild ancestors of the domestic dogs we know and love today, and they need the continued protection of the Endangered Species Act. Born Free USA staunchly opposes the proposed rule and announcement from the U.S. Department of Interior and will be working diligently against it to save the gray wolf from extinction. Learn more on how to help advocate for animals at bornfreeusa.org.
Press Contact
Karen Lauria, Communications Director
karen@bornfreeusa.org
