Federal wildlife officials have decided against reinstating protections for gray wolves in the northern U.S. Rocky Mountains, despite calls from conservation groups. They argue that the wolf population is not facing extinction, even as some states pursue measures to reduce their numbers through hunting.
Instead of restoring protections, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to develop a national recovery plan for wolves, a departure from previous regional efforts. This decision means that state-sanctioned wolf hunts will continue in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, where the wolf population is estimated to be nearly 2,800 animals.
Conservationists have criticized the move, citing aggressive wolf-killing measures approved by Idaho and Montana, including trapping and extended hunting seasons. The relationship between wolves and human activities has long been contentious, with conflicts arising over wolf predation on livestock and big game.
Despite previous federal protections, wolves were delisted from the Endangered Species Act in 2011 and 2020, leading to increased hunting pressure in some states. While a federal judge restored protections for wolves across 45 states in 2022, management was left to state officials in certain regions.
Republican lawmakers in Montana and Idaho have expanded wolf hunting measures, prompting concerns about the sustainability of wolf populations. Despite these challenges, wolves from the Northern Rockies region have continued to expand into new areas, including Washington, Oregon, California, and Colorado.
Meanwhile, there is ongoing political pressure to remove wolf protections in the western Great Lakes region. The decision not to reinstate protections reflects the ongoing debate surrounding wolf conservation and management in the United States.
