The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation strongly disagrees with a ruling by a federal judge in California to restore federal protections to gray wolf populations in the Lower 48.
“Scientists, biologists and professional wildlife managers agree that wolf populations are stable and growing,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “As such, they should remain under the umbrella of state management since state wildlife agencies successfully manage all other wildlife in line with the North American Wildlife Conservation Model through regulated hunting and trapping.”
The science community under both the Obama and Trump administrations previously determined wolves to be a recovered species and removed populations from Endangered Species Act protections in 2011 and 2020. Both times, judges intervened to frustrate the process.
Wolf population estimates are in direct opposition with the latest ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of Oakland. They are well above state management plan levels in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin while topping all-time modern day levels in Oregon and Washington. Additionally, there are established wolf packs in California, Colorado and verified sightings in other states.
As a matter of information, there are also 7,000-11,000 wolves in Alaska and approximately 60,000 in Canada.
“The process is broken. Science speaks for itself and yet again and again we see that chronic, frivolous litigation continues and thwarts proven science-based, state-led wildlife management,” Weaver added.
Radical environmental groups also called for the restoration of ESA protections in the Northern Rockies where estimated wolf populations are 900% above minimum recovery levels in Idaho, 700% above in Montana and more than 200% in Wyoming. The ruling, however, does not affect wolves in those states where populations remain under state management.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation maintains more than 225,000 members and has conserved nearly 8.4 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage.