Service Announces Gray Wolf Finding and National Recovery Plan
Feb. 2, 2024
Recognizing that the national discussion around gray wolf management must look more comprehensively at conservation tools available to federal, state and Tribal governments, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a path to support a long term and durable approach to the conservation of gray wolves, to include a process to develop – for the first time – a National Recovery Plan under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for gray wolves in the lower 48 states. Today’s announcement does not make any changes to the legal status of gray wolves in the United States.
USFWS Statement on the Gray Wolf in the Lower-48 United States.
Feb. 13, 2023
On November 3, 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule delisting the gray wolf everywhere it was listed in the lower-48 United States and Mexico, except for the Mexican wolf subspecies. The rule took effect in January 2021. On February 10, 2022, that delisting rule was vacated by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. As a result, all gray wolves in the lower-48 United States outside of the Northern Rocky Mountain region are currently protected under the Endangered Species Act. Multiple parties appealed the district court’s order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
2022 Gray Wolf
Questions and Answers
Feb. 11, 2022
- What does the February 10, 2022, ruling mean?
- How does this ruling affect wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains?
- When does the court decision to vacate the delisting rule go into effect?
- What is the legal status of gray wolves as of this ruling?
- Is the Service continuing its status review of wolves in the western U.S.?
- Is emergency listing an option for the Northern Rocky Mountain population?
Service to Initiate Status Review of Gray Wolf in the Western U.S.
Sept. 15, 2021
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has completed the initial review of two petitions filed to list gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the western U.S. as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service finds that the petitions present substantial, credible information indicating that a listing action may be warranted and will initiate a comprehensive status review of the gray wolf in the western U.S.
Trump Admin Returns Wolf Management to States
Oct 29, 2020
More than 45 years after gray wolves were first listed under the Endangered Species Act, the Trump Administration and its many conservation partners are announcing the successful recovery of the gray wolf and its delisting from the ESA. U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced that state and tribal wildlife management agencies will resume responsibility for sustainable management and protection of delisted gray wolves.
Gray Wolf Final Delisting Determination Questions and Answers
Oct 29, 2020
- How were gray wolves recovered?
- What is the range of gray wolves?
- What is the history of gray wolves under the ESA?
- At the time of listing under the ESA, where did wolves remain and how many were there?
- What is the final rule based on?
- What happens if wolf populations decrease?
- Will delisting mean wolf populations will be decimated by hunting?
