Legislators say the populations of wolves and bears have recovered and that further population regulation should be done by the states.
Members of Congress are considering legislation that would remove both the gray wolf and grizzly bear species from the Endangered Species Act protections. The House passed a bill requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rescind the Endangered Species Act protections for the gray wolf just before the holiday recess, sending the bill to the Senate.
Supporters of the legislation state that the wolf and grizzly bear populations have recovered and that their management should be up to individual states to determine. They also say that these predatory animals make it difficult to prevent human-wildlife conflict. Those who oppose the legislation argue that Congress could focus instead on appropriations programs to compensate those who may be affected by wolf or bear populations.
The gray wolf had been previously delisted in 2020, but this decision was vacated in 2022 after it was determined that the Fish and Wildlife Service did not demonstrate that the gray wolf population could be sustained outside of specific areas in the U.S.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for members of the Senate as they further discuss Endangered Species protections in 2026.
- For members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as they examine the impact legislation like this would have on the wildlife populations in the U.S.
- For U.S. senators and representatives as they determine funding for strewardship of the land and wildlife populations within the country.
Sources: Roll Call,
