US administration initiates federal review of wolf protections

The Trump administration has initiated a federal review of wolf management through an executive order, directing the Department of the Interior to evaluate whether gray and Mexican wolves have recovered sufficiently to lose protections under the Endangered Species Act. The Interior Department has 90 days to reach a decision.

The directive aims to address concerns from the ranching industry regarding livestock losses caused by predators. While some states like Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming already manage gray wolves at the state level, the review could significantly impact states where wolves remain federally protected, such as California, Oregon, and Washington.

Conservationists have raised concerns that the review may prioritize politics over science. Specifically, regarding the Mexican gray wolf, experts note that the species currently has a population of approximately 319 individuals in Arizona and New Mexico, falling just short of the 320-individual average required over four years to qualify for downlisting from “endangered” to “threatened” status. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated that the executive order does not immediately change the current status of any wolf populations and that they will evaluate all applicable science and existing laws.