On October 29, 2020, the Trump administration announced its decision to prematurely remove endangered species protections for wolves in the lower 48 states, in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The most recent data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and its state partners show an estimated 4,400 wolves inhabit the western Great Lakes states, but only 108 wolves in Washington State, 158 in Oregon, and a scant 15 in California. These numbers lay the groundwork for a legal challenge planned by The Lands Council and a coalition of Western conservation groups.
In delisting wolves, the Service ignores the science that clearly demonstrates that wolves are not recovered in the West as well as much of the lower 48. The Service concluded that due to sufficient wolves in the Great Lakes states, it does not matter that wolves in the West are not yet recovered. The ESA demands more - including restoring the species in the ample suitable habitats afforded by the wild public lands throughout the West. Wolves are listed as endangered under state laws in Washington and California; however, wolves have lost state ESA protections in Oregon where they occupy a small portion of available, suitable habitat. Likewise, wolves also remain absent across vast swaths of their historical, wild, public lands habitat, including in Colorado and the southern Rockies.
We are gaining ground on recovery in Washington; however, delisting gray wolves requires recovery in a significant portion of historic range and this is clearly not the case. Removing ESA protections for any species should be based science, not politics; and the science tells us wolves are not there yet. Wolves need protections to recover. When wolves recover, ecosystems recover.
Wolves are a keystone species whose presence on landscapes regulates prey animal populations and improves ecosystem health.
The Lands Council and its partners are challenging the premature removal of endangered species protections for gray wolves in federal court the Notice of Intent to litigate was filed in November 2020. Our case will be filed this month.
For more information contact me at cbachman@landscouncil.org.
