DOI Plans to "Down List" Protected Wolves

追加: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]According to data from the Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife agencies, over half of the gray wolves present in the lower 48 can be found in the district I am proud to represent, Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.

[00:00:12]Our inability to properly manage the gray wolf is an issue for my constituents, and they face that every day. Secretary Burham, can you confirm that the Trump administration still holds the position that the gray wolf should be delisted under the ESA?

[00:00:27]Uh yes.

[00:00:29]And so, to confirm >> But let me I want to say again, as you as you know, we got gray wolves, we got Mexican wolves, we've got some of them in places where they're they're they're downlisted versus delisted. I mean, it's a complex situation, but I I guess what I say I'm I'm agreeing with is that we we do have a wolf management issue, and we're actively engaged in trying to resolve this and find the right balance. So, confirming defending the November 2020 delisting rule is still the administration's strategy?

[00:00:57]I I I would say yes, but we're also taking a look at downlisting as well, because in some cases the delisting could actually make things worse than than than just downlisting. And so, we're taking a look at how we can achieve the goals of better wolf management. Okay.

[00:01:14]Does the department have any additional tools to delist these wolves and other species administratively, or must Congress step in to help you?

[00:01:23]I we're going to do everything we can administratively within the rules that we have, but certainly would welcome any discussions with Congress to try to come up with a rule, cuz again, we have a patchwork state-by-state right now, and wolves don't unfortunately don't know where the state lines are. No.

[00:01:39]I will tell you that we have to celebrate the success of the ESA, like the gray wolf, and I appreciate your responses.