Pet and Livestock Protection Act Could See Gray Wolves Delisted Across the Lower 48

A newly introduced bill by congressmen from both Wisconsin and Colorado is looking to remove federal protections for gray wolves across the contiguous United States. 

Brought forward by U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert (Colo.-04) and Tom Tiffany (Wisc.-07), the legislation, introduced last Friday, was presented as the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. Aimed as a follow up to last May’s Trust the Science Act, the goal of the new bill is simple: to delist the long-since-recovered gray wolf from the Endangered Species List.

In a place where many believe the gray wolves have overstayed their welcome, the legislation hopes to force the hand of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to use sound judgment as it pertains to wolves. It also serves to put protections in place that would prevent any future emotionally-driven lawsuits that would ignore sound science and keep wolves perpetually under federal management and protection.

“Gray wolves are threatening the livelihoods of our ranchers and farmers with attacks on livestock because our agriculture community has their hands tied by out-of-date policies and progressive legal activism,” said Congresswoman Boebert. “This bill enacts a common-sense solution shared by administrations of both parties and prioritizes the strength of our agriculture community over predators. I’m proud to join with Rep. Tiffany again on this important legislation for our farmers and ranchers and deliver a major victory for our country’s agriculture community.”

With over 100 attacks on domesticated animals in 2024 in Wisconsin alone, the bill will require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue 2020’s delisting decision that was enacted just before President Trump left office during his first term.

That decision was overturned by an out-of-state attorney all the way in California, further prompting the reasoning behind some of the wording in this newly-introduced bill. 

As wolves across the Rocky Mountain states reside under state management, legislators are simply stating the facts. The Great Lakes region holds the largest population of gray wolves in the Lower 48, a population that is now at three times the size of the recovery goal originally set when the animals were placed under Federal Protection.

The bill would not affect the endangered status of Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico - as they remain endangered as per their population levels.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act is cosponsored by 30 representatives and has a good chance of passing both chambers of Congress. 

In addition to the 30 representatives, the new bill also has the support of a variety of organizations including: the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Public Lands Council, NRA, SCI, Hunter Nation, International Order of T. Roosevelt, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Blacktail Deer Foundation, Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Wool Growers, New Mexico Cattle Growers, Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers Association, Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association, Nebraska Cattlemen and Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association.

As anyone can expect, the news of the new bill, along with its popularity, is being vehemently opposed by anti-hunting and wolf advocates across the country. In a time when common sense seems to be making a comeback, here’s to hoping this new legislation is able to cut through the noise.