Lawmakers in Wisconsin’s congressional delegation are making strides toward removing the gray wolf from the endangered species list, a significant effort that has gained momentum with the passage of the Trust the Science Act in the House. Sponsored by Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert and co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany and other Wisconsin House Republicans, the bill passed by a narrow margin of 209-205.
If enacted, the Trust the Science Act would permanently delist the gray wolf from protections under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, entrusting wolf management authority to state lawmakers and wildlife officials. However, the bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain.
Representative Tiffany emphasized the importance of recognizing the success of the Endangered Species Act by delisting recovered species like the gray wolf. He expressed concern that failure to delist such species could undermine public trust in the Act.
The House vote marks a significant development following a federal court ruling in February 2022 that relisted the wolf under the Endangered Species Act in Wisconsin and other states.
While the gray wolf has made a remarkable recovery in Wisconsin since its near extinction in the 1960s, opinions on its management vary among stakeholders. Wildlife advocates advocate for continued protections to allow the species to reclaim more of its historical range, while farmers and hunters generally support efforts to manage wolf populations.
Recent data shows a modest increase in Wisconsin’s wolf population, but the number of wolf packs has slightly decreased. Despite previous periods of state management authority, judicial rulings have reinstated federal protections for the species.
Delisting the gray wolf has garnered bipartisan support among Wisconsin’s lawmakers, with both Republican Senator Ron Johnson and Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin introducing legislation on the issue. Baldwin’s proposed “regional-specific” plan aims to delist the wolf in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with input from an advisory committee.
Boebert’s bill seeks to prevent judicial review of the delisting process, a move criticized by opponents like Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan, who emphasized the importance of science-based decision-making. Pocan referenced a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf management plan aimed at species recovery and habitat conservation.
As the debate over gray wolf management continues, the Trust the Science Act represents a significant step forward in the effort to transfer wolf management authority to the states.
