The Biden Administration has decided against imposing new protections for gray wolves after President Trump's cabinet removed the animal from the Endangered Species List in October 2020. As part of that move, the lower 48 states legally assumed management over the wolf last January, which allowed them to hold regular harvest seasons to keep population numbers in check.
In a rare occurrence, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson praised Biden for the decision, saying returning management and protection of gray wolves to states and tribes following successful recovery efforts is the right decision.
"I'm glad the Biden administration will continue to delist the recovered gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. I've fought for Wisconsin's farmers, ranchers, and land owners to delist the gray wolf through multiple pieces of legislation and amendments since 2015," Sen. Johnson said. "This decision maintains what wildlife experts and scientific data have concluded is the best solution. However, in order to eliminate the uncertainty caused by never-ending lawsuit challenges, Congress still needs to pass a law that will codify the wolf delist administrative rulings that Presidents Obama, Trump and now Biden have all issued."
Gray wolves had been delisted in Wisconsin and eight other Great Lakes states in 2014, but was quickly reversed by a federal judge at the urging of animal rights activists.
Wisconsin is planning its next wolf hunting season later this fall.
Categories: Wisconsin, Government & Policy, Rural Lifestyle