Once again the wolf’s status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) could be changing.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday that would remove gray wolves from the federal endangered species list nationwide, reigniting a long-running debate over wolf management, science-based conservation, and states’ rights.
The bill, H.R. 845—known as the Pet and Livestock Protection Act—was introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and cosponsored by Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT). It directs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a rule delisting gray wolves under the ESA.
Supporters of the bill argue that gray wolf populations have recovered and that continued federal protections hinder effective wildlife management and rural livelihoods.
Rep. Downing said the ESA has been used to create unnecessary legal risk for ranchers and landowners, emphasizing the need to “trust the science” and allow states to manage wolf populations.
Minnesota Rep. Pete Stauber said, “The gray wolf recovery is a genuine conservation success story and should be celebrated. The science is clear: populations have recovered. Delisting will protect our farmers and their livestock, help our rural families and communities, and—importantly—return to local control of wolf management.”
Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, a former Interior Secretary, echoed those sentiments, stating that multiple administrations have acknowledged wolf recovery and that the ESA should not be “weaponized” through the courts.
Conservation groups strongly opposed the House vote, warning that delisting could lead to aggressive hunting pressure and population declines.
Organizations such as the Center for Biological Diversity and Humane World Action Fund criticized Congress for intervening in what they say should remain a science-driven process handled by federal wildlife agencies. They argue that wolves are still struggling in much of the Lower 48 and that removing protections could undermine decades of recovery efforts
The issue has been marked by years of legal and political back-and-forth. Gray wolves were nearly wiped out in the Lower 48 by the 1970s, leading to their ESA listing.
Since then, their status has shifted repeatedly through administrative actions, court rulings, and congressional intervention—particularly in the Northern Rockies. As of recent federal estimates, roughly 2,800 wolves live in the western U.S., with the largest populations in Montana and Idaho. Wolves remain listed as threatened in Minnesota and endangered in most other states.
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate, where it will require 60 votes to advance. If passed and signed into law, wolf management authority would largely return to the states, setting the stage for continued legal challenges and intense debate over the future of one of North America’s most controversial predators.
