By a vote of 211-204, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would delist gray wolves in the Lower 48. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act, supported by Hunt 2 Conserve and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, would restore management authority to state wildlife agencies.

“We salute House membership for agreeing with scientists and wildlife management professionals that wolf populations are stable and growing and should return to state management,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted wolves in the Lower 48 states twice in the last decade and a half – during the Obama administration in 2011 and the Trump administration in 2020. Both times, judges intervened to invalidate the process.” 

Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) sponsored the legislation. It will not change any statutes but instead implements a rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2020.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) introduced a companion bill in the Senate, which requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

“State wildlife agencies sustainably manage thousands of species without federal interference, and several states in the Northern Rockies are successfully managing wolves because Congress took action to protect their delisting from activist judges,” said Henning. “We thank Representatives Tiffany and Boebert for sponsoring this legislation. RMEF calls on the Senate to follow suit and pass the bill.”

(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)