“This is no ‘Mission Accomplished’ moment for wolf recovery. Wolves are only starting to get a toehold in places like Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, and wolves need federal protection to explore habitat in the Southern Rockies and the Northeast. This delisting decision is what happens when bad science drives bad policy — and it’s illegal, so we will see them in court.”

Kristen Boyles, Earthjustice attorney. Full post here.

“After more than 45 years as a listed species, the gray wolf has exceeded all conservation goals for recovery. Today’s announcement simply reflects the determination that this species is neither a threatened nor endangered species based on the specific factors Congress has laid out in the law.”

David Bernhardt, Secretary of the Interior. Full post here. 

“We should be putting much more effort into coexistence with wolves, working to ensure that populations in the lower 48 are thriving and are able to play out their ecological role balancing our natural systems, instead of stripping critical protections still needed for their full recovery,”  “The science is clear that to protect our communities and prevent future pandemics, we need to be doing more to protect nature and wildlife, not less.”

Bonnie Rice, Sierra Club senior campaign representative. Full post here.

“Today is a win for the gray wolf and the American people. I am grateful for these partnerships with States and Tribes and their commitment to sustainable management of wolves that will ensure the species long-term survival following this delisting.”

Aurelia Skipwith, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Full post here. 

“We cannot let one-sided misinformation and fairy tales drive management decisions about wolves. We need wolf management to be based on the best scientific data available and respectful dialogue.”

Grant Spickelmier, executive director, International Wolf Center. Full story here. 

“Again and again the courts have rejected premature removal of wolf protections. But instead of pursuing further wolf recovery, the Fish and Wildlife Service has just adopted its broadest, most destructive delisting rule yet. The courts recognize, even if the feds don’t, that the Endangered Species Act requires real wolf recovery, including in the southern Rockies and other places with ideal wolf habitat.”

Collette Adkins, carnivore and conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Full post here.

“The re-emergence of the gray wolf in the United States is a great comeback story,”“The federal decision to de-list the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act returns management of wolf populations to the states. While confirmed sightings of gray wolves are very rare in Nebraska, we are grateful that the states will have responsibility for their management.”

Pete Ricketts, Governor of Nebraska. Full post here. 

“Removing protections for gray wolves amid a global extinction crisis is shortsighted and dangerous to America’s conservation legacy. Rather than working alongside communities to support the return of wolves to parks and surrounding landscapes including Dinosaur National Monument, North Cascades and Lassen National Forest, the administration essentially today said ‘good enough’ and removed Endangered Species Act protections. The Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal ignores the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, science and common sense.”

Bart Melton, wildlife program director for the National Parks Conservation Association. Full post here.

“Stripping protections for gray wolves is premature and reckless. Gray wolves occupy only a fraction of their former range and need continued federal protection to fully recover. We will be taking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to court to defend this iconic species.”

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO for Defenders of Wildlife. Full post here.

“It is far too early to declare wolves recovered and to strip protections from them in the Western two-thirds of Oregon. Removing wolves from the endangered species list would turn their management entirely over to Oregon’s embattled Department of Fish and Wildlife, which continues to push for hunting and trapping of the state’s already fragile wolf population.”

Danielle Moser, wildlife program coordinator for Oregon Wild. Full post here.

“This is yet another example of the Trump administration ignoring science. From climate change denial, to their gross mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, to rollbacks of environmental safeguards protecting clean air and water, this administration has proven time and time again that they’re only in it for themselves, even if it means ignoring and denying the facts. The battle over wolf recovery is, unfortunately, both politically charged and partisan. For decades, ranchers have demonized wolves because they are an impediment to carefree, inexpensive grazing of private livestock on public lands. Finalizing delisting of wolves a few days before an election is a gift to the ranching and agricultural interests, plain and simple.”

Lindsay Larris, wildlife program director with WildEarth Guardians. Full post here.

“The gray wolf has been on the Endangered Species List for almost 50 years, but species recovery efforts led by federal, state and local governments have helped their populations recover to sustainable goals. Today’s decision is a sign of success for the ESA. By allowing state governments to control the management of gray wolf populations, we can develop a more collaborative approach to protect the species, our economy and our communities. I support the Administration’s efforts to delist the gray wolf and look forward to working with our partners in the federal and state governments to better implement species recovery measures.”

Clearwater County, Minnesota, Commissioner Mark Titera. Full post here.