News

Wolf delisting legislation takes another step forward

A U.S. House bill that would remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and prevent judges from putting the animal back on the list has made a step forward.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act, also known as HR 845, would restore authority back to state lawmakers and state wildlife officials to control the gray wolf population. 

Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany is one of the bill’s authors and testified at Wednesday’s House Natural Resources Committee hearing. “Wisconsinites know best when it comes to managing Wisconsin’s wolf population and it’s long past time we empowered Wisconsin to do so, as well as every other state that has a gray wolf population.”

Tiffany says twenty-six scientists called for wolves to be removed from the endangered species list a decade ago, but a federal judge put wolves back on the list. “The data is clear. The population has recovered and we have waited long enough.”

The bill passed out of the committee Wednesday and will be sent to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

Similar legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee of Utah and John Barrasso of Wyoming.  The bills have the support of many agricultural organizations including Farm Bureau.

States like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin have seen wolf populations grow exponentially beyond initial management goals.