The U.S. House passed the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. H.R. 845 delists the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It prevents endless lawfare from overturning the decision. It restores authority to state lawmakers and wildlife officials to responsibly manage gray wolf populations. The bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 211-204.
“When federal protections were first established for gray wolves in the Great Lakes region, populations were only in the hundreds. Today, there are well over 4,000 wolves across Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Despite this recovery, activist judges continue to ignore the science, leaving livestock and pets to be slaughtered and rural communities vulnerable,” said Congressman Tom Tiffany. “The Pet and Livestock Protection Act reflects a commonsense approach that has been recognized across administrations of both parties, including Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden. The gray wolf has recovered, and Wisconsin should be allowed to responsibly manage a population that has exceeded recovery goals without interference from out-of-state judges.”
Background:
The Pet and Livestock Protection Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2020 Department of the Interior final rule that delisted gray wolves in the lower 48 United States. It also ensures this rule cannot be overturned through judicial review.
In 2020, the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under President Trump delisted the gray wolf in the lower 48 United States through a process that included the best science and data available. At over 6,000 wolves at the time of delisting, the gray wolf has been the latest Endangered Species Act (ESA) success story with significant population recoveries in the Rocky Mountains and western Great Lakes regions.
Despite clear evidence of recovery, a California judge overturned the rule in 2022, relisting the gray wolf under the ESA. Since then, wolf attacks in Wisconsin have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2024, Wisconsin paid out $322,970 for wolf-caused losses, the second-highest amount in 40 years. There have been numerous gray wolf attacks in Wisconsin’s Seventh District over the last few years. Several states in the Northern Rockies are responsibly managing stable wolf populations, and it’s time to give other states the opportunity to do the same.
Organizational Statements
“For too long, ranchers have grappled with the pendulum swing of regulatory determination on the gray wolf. The last three presidents have concluded that the gray wolf is fully recovered, yet lawsuits from activist groups have forced the agency to back away from sound science and keep the wolf listed. Restoring the 2020 wolf delisting through the Pet and Livestock Protection Act will give management decisions and certainty back to cattle producers, who are suffering financially and emotionally from wolf depredations that increase every year. NCBA extends our gratitude to Congress for passing this legislation and urge the Senate to act,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein.
“Wisconsin Farm Bureau congratulates Congressman Tom Tiffany on the passage of H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. This legislation is an important step toward restoring common-sense wildlife management and providing certainty for rural communities that have lived with the consequences of a growing wolf population for far too long. Those who live and work on the land have paid the price through livestock losses, threats to pets, and ongoing concerns for public safety. We urge swift passage in the Senate so Wisconsin farmers and rural residents finally have stability, clarity and a voice in wolf management decisions that directly impact their livelihoods,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Brad Olson.
“Cattlemen across Wisconsin have faced numerous challenges from the expanding gray wolf population. The most direct impact has been livestock depredation, but we cannot ignore secondary effects such as damaged fences from cattle being chased, interrupted grazing behavior, reduced fertility rates, and mental strain on producers managing concern for their own safety while caring for traumatized herds. These issues affect not only animal health and disposition but also increase the complexity of compensation claims. The Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association strongly supports Congressman Tiffany’s Pet and Livestock Protection Act to federally delist the gray wolf, returning population management to the state level. As cattlemen, we need effective solutions to address a predator that is causing significant harm to our operations,” said Tressa Lacy, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association President.
“The Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association is strongly in favor of any action that would return wolf management to the states. Currently, farmers, hunters, pet owners and other residents in Wisconsin’s wolf range are being adversely affected by the lack of wolf management. In fact, the effects of the unmanaged population are being felt throughout the state. It is time for Congress to act to ensure proper management of the species is returned to the state level. We continue to urge Congress to act on any measure, including H.R. 845 and H.R. 1897, that would guarantee states’ rights to manage wolves,” said Carl Schoettel, Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association President.
“The Mule Deer Foundation believes that once a species has fully recovered, management should return to the states. We applaud our representatives for their leadership on this important issue,” said Greg Sheehan, Mule Deer Foundation President and CEO.
