Biden Administration Seeks to Revive Trump-Era Rule Lifting Gray Wolf Protections

The move aims to transfer oversight to states, potentially reopening hunting in the Great Lakes region.

The Biden administration has filed with the 9th U.S. District Court of Appeals to reinstate a Trump-era rule removing Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves.
If successful, the rule would place gray wolves under state control and could lead to the resumption of hunting in the Great Lakes region, halted two years ago by court order.
Environmental groups, which previously won a court case to reinstate protections, argue that lifting them will cause wolf populations to decline.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supports the move, stating it aims for a balanced recovery that respects local communities.
Gray wolves, once nearly eradicated, have seen fluctuating protections since being federally protected in 1974, with ongoing debates over state versus federal oversight.