Central Wisconsin News

Today in Washington, DC, legislation to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List passed the House Natural Resources Committee. The bill, known as the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, was introduced by Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) and will proceed to the full House of Representatives for voting.

Tiffany emphasized the need for state control over wolf management, stating, "The damage to pets, livestock, and wildlife from an unmanaged wolf population can no longer be ignored. The gray wolf has exceeded federal and state recovery goals, with over 1,000 wolves now thriving in Wisconsin. It’s time to take the next step, delist them, and let the people closest to the gray wolf manage their population levels."

Boebert expressed optimism about the bill's progress, saying, "I'm very excited to see PALPA take another step towards being signed into law, which will be a huge victory for our ranchers, farmers, and landowners in Colorado and across America. The science has been very clear on this topic for years: gray wolves are fully recovered and their comeback should be touted as a success story. Now it's time we encourage states to set their own guidelines and allow ranchers, farmers, and landowners to protect their livelihoods. I look forward to voting for this bill on the House floor and ultimately getting it to President Trump for his signature."

Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman supported the legislation, noting "The Endangered Species Act was never meant to be a Hotel California where species check in but never leave. Congresswoman Boebert and Congressman Tiffany’s Pet and Livestock Protection Act will allow the recovered gray wolf to check out and return management to the states who know the species best. I thank Ms. Boebert and Mr. Tiffany for their work on this important issue."

Keith Mark, President of Hunter Nation, backed the legislation, stating, "Hunter Nation salutes the House Natural Resources Committee for voting the ‘Pet and Livestock Protection Act’ out of committee, and thanks Congressman Tom Tiffany and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert for their unwavering support of hunters and our hunting lifestyle. The delisting of the gray wolf is a policy change we have been fighting for since our founding. The recovery of the gray wolf is an incredible conservation success story that should be celebrated. This legislation allows each state to manage the now recovered wolf population just as they manage all other wildlife within the state. The best part of this legislation is the provision that prevents judicial review of the legislative action which will preclude anti-hunting groups from using activist judges to interfere with sound, science-based conservation."

The gray wolf had been previously delisted by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2020. However, a California judge relisted the species last year. The new bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2020 rule that delisted gray wolves.

Rep. Tiffany and Rep. Boebert’s bill is supported by 32 Members of Congress, which includes all members of the Wisconsin Republican Congressional Delegation. Several organizations have expressed their support for the act, such as Hunter Nation, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

The proposed legislation aims to restore state authority over the management of the gray wolf population and prevent judicial challenges to the delisting action.