Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior, said that the Department supports H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025, asserting that it is "unreasonable to continue listing the gray wolf" as an endangered species. This statement was released in a press release from the Department of the Interior.
"Under the protection of the ESA, the gray wolf's population has increased to over four times the level at the time of the initial gray wolf listings in the 1970s and its geographical footprint has expanded beyond its historical range," said Douglas James Burgum, 55th Secretary of the Interior. "The Department is committed to collaborative conservation with state and other partners to ensure the gray wolf remains at a healthy and manageable level. States are leaders in wildlife management and protection and are vitally important partners with the FWS in developing management and recovery strategies backed by the best available science. The Department supports H.R. 845, and we believe, based on the best available science, that it is unreasonable to continue listing the gray wolf."
A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 845, seeks to remove the gray wolf from the federal Endangered Species List. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO), would require the Department of the Interior to reissue a rule that had previously removed the gray wolf from the endangered list in 2020. The legislation includes a provision exempting this reissued rule from judicial review, preventing court challenges. The bill aims to solidify the gray wolf's delisting status, which is already effective for much of the western United States due to population recovery in areas like Montana and Wyoming.
According to the Department of the Interior, once widespread across much of the U.S., gray wolves faced near extinction in the early 20th century due to hunting and habitat loss. Conservation efforts through initiatives like the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have significantly increased their numbers since they were first listed as endangered in the 1970s. Despite these recovery efforts, some regions still express concerns about conflicts between wolves and livestock. In 2022, a court vacated a rule from 2020 that had delisted gray wolves; this case remains under appeal.
The Pet and Livestock Protection Act proposes returning management of gray wolves to individual states, allowing local wildlife officials to control populations based on scientific evidence rather than judicial rulings. This information comes from a news release by Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07). The bill also aims to prevent activist judges from overturning decisions regarding gray wolf delisting, similar to a 2022 court ruling that reversed a previous decision. Representatives Tiffany and Boebert reintroduced this bill with support from 30 members of Congress; however, it has been blocked in previous Senate sessions despite passing in the House.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced plans for a National Recovery Plan for gray wolves across lower 48 states under ESA guidelines following an extensive review confirming that populations are not at risk of extinction in certain regions such as Northern Rocky Mountains or Western U.S., according to their news release.
Doug Burgum is currently serving as Secretary of Interior after being appointed by President Donald Trump in February 2025; he previously served two terms as Governor North Dakota between years spanning from2016 until his federal appointment took place according Department’s website records show so far.
