US gray wolves in danger of being taken off endangered species list

In a narrow vote, the U.S House Representatives approved a bill to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list across the lower 48 states. The measure, introduced by Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., was largely supported by Republicans but also backed by a handful of Democrats.

The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate where it faces an uncertain future. In addition, the White House expressed its opposition and argued against Congress determining species recovery.

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The debate surrounding the bill reflects a national discourse on the wolves’ future. On one side, some hunters and farmers claim the species is stable and have long voiced concerns over wolf attacks on game species and livestock, and some have also advocated for legalized wolf hunting.

Yet, conservationists argue that the wolf population remains vulnerable after decades of near extinction. They emphasize the species fragile status and warn against premature removal of protections.

This bill follows previous efforts to dismantle wolf protection laws. In 2011, Congress removed Endangered Species Act protection for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains, and the Trump administration extended this to the rest of the continental United States in 2020. Trump’s move was later challenged in court and blocked by a federal judge. However, the judge did keep the removal of protections for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Republicans largely hailed the bill as a conservation success, arguing that wolves have recovered adequately. Democrats, however, remained skeptical, insisting that the species still requires protection from humans.

The bill passed the House 209-205, with a few Democrats crossing the aisle. Yet, despite this narrow victory, its fate in the Senate could be a bigger hurdle. Even if it does pass the Senate, President Joe Biden has threatened to veto the legislation.