Sierra Club Opposes Removal of Critical Protections from Gray Wolves

Hudson, WI– Today, at a hearing about the Trump administration’s move to remove gray wolves in the Lower 48 states from federal Endangered Species Act protections, several conservation and community organizations spoke out against the proposal. The groups emphasized the dangers of removing federal protections for the gray wolf– including delisting prematurely and pulling resources away from full recovery efforts.

Sen. Ron Johnson hosted the hearing in support of the Trump administration’s efforts to delist nearly all gray wolves across the Lower 48 states. The Senator has previously introduced several bills to do the same and has supported a wolf hunt in Wisconsin — which conservationists, scientists and Native American Nations have strongly opposed.

In response, representatives of the Sierra Club released the following statements:

“State governments across the Lower 48 are not prepared to manage wolves in the absence of national protections,” said Jodi Sinykin, an attorney with the Sierra Club Wisconsin (John Muir) Chapter. “Without a compelling reason for delisting, nor the resources needed for full recovery, we call on the US Fish and Wildlife Service to halt the delisting of the gray wolf until conditions better prompt such action.”

“The Trump administration’s move to delist the gray wolf is rooted in politics, not science,” said Margaret Levin, State Director of the Sierra Club North Star Chapter. “Removing federal protections for this iconic species will be detrimental to the wolf population in our region who are just beginning to recover. Much more work will be needed for the wolf to survive and thrive into the future.”

“Strong safeguards will ensure the gray wolf can fully recover to a healthy and sustainable population — a work still in progress. We must give wolves the time they need to truly and fully recover,” said Lena Moffit, Director of the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign. “Instead of delisting and persecuting gray wolves, we must make a conscious effort to co-exist with them, and appreciate their ability to bring natural systems back into balance and ensure our wild places stay wild.”

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