From NationalParksTraveler.org:
President Trump’s choice of a former director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is generating controversy, with the National Wildlife Federation calling Brian Nesvik a solid choice while the Center For Biological Diversity views him as a threat to the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Coalition called the nomination a declaration of “war on wildlife.”
The nomination, however, gained praise from Wyoming politicians and even the Wyoming Wildlife Federation. Nesvik, who retired in 2024, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Click here for the full story.
2026 ballot measure that would overturn Colorado wolf reintroduction clears first hurdle
From ColoradoSun.com:
A ballot measure in 2020 directed the state to restore wolves. Now a group wants to use the same tool to end the project that has reintroduced 25 gray wolves in Colorado.
Click here for the full story.
Gray wolf shot in southeastern Minnesota’s Fillmore County
From OutdoorNews.com:
On Saturday, Jan. 11, the Minnesota DNR received a TIP that a gray wolf had been illegally shot and killed in southeastern Minnesota’s Fillmore County, several miles north of the Iowa-Minnesota border, according to a DNR incident report.
The report states that the gray wolf was illegally shot by 21-year-old hunter Lucas Heusinkveld, of Spring Valley, who was hunting coyotes in early January.
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UPDATE | Trump Pick For U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Director Controversial
From NationalParksTraveler.org:
President Trump’s choice of a former director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is generating controversy, with the National Wildlife Federation calling Brian Nesvik a solid choice while the Center For Biological Diversity views him as a threat to the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Coalition called the nomination a declaration of “war on wildlife.”
The nomination, however, gained praise from Wyoming politicians and even the Wyoming Wildlife Federation. Nesvik, who retired in 2024, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Click here for the full story.
Groups take legal action to protect wolves from looser hunting rules [EU]
From Politico.eu:
A group of nongovernmental organizations will go to court to seek to reverse European Union member countries’ decision to downgrade the protection status of the wolf.
The decision by EU countries, which is yet to be legislated, would make it easier for farmers to shoot the large carnivore in cases of attacks.
Five conservation groups are taking their case to the EU’s top court in Luxembourg alleging that the decision by the Council of the EU was not in line with existing EU environmental legislation and therefore a breach of the bloc’s treaties, they announced Wednesday.
Click here for the full story.
Why growing population of wolves is ‘tiresome’ for Denmark
From TheLocal.dk:
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday that the growing number of wolves in Denmark is causing concern.
Answering questions in parliament, the PM admitted that the presence of wolves near smaller local communities is “tiresome” or træls, to use the colloquial Danish term favoured by the PM (which has a range of English translations). She added more regulation is needed.
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Government greenlights nationwide hunt to cut apex predator population in half: ‘We are concerned’ [Sweden]
From TheCoolDown.com:
With lax regulations and an annual hunting quota, the animals are just barely getting by. The Swedish government has put in motion a plan to halve the country’s population of endangered wolves, outraging conservationists.
What happened? As Mongabay detailed, the Swedish government permitted a hunt in January that allowed for the killing of 30 endangered wolves. According to the Guardian, there were 375 recorded individuals before the hunt. Despite records that the population dropped around 20% in 2022-23, the government announced the intention to reduce numbers further.
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Scientists want to release 160 wolves in Scotland to help UK hit net zero target
From The-Independent.com:
Scientists have suggested reintroducing dozens of wolves into the Scottish Highlands in order to help the UK reach its climate targets.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have suggested that the reintroduction of grey wolves to the Cairngorms, as well as the south-west, north-west and central Highlands, could help reduce the issue of red deer eating tree saplings, which stops natural woodland regeneration.
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Local law enforcement can’t use dogs to find bad bears, wolves, cougars under new bill [Washington]
From. MyNorthwest.com:
A new bill before the Washington State Legislature has sparked intense debate among lawmakers, wildlife advocates and local law enforcement. Senate Bill 5482 seeks to end the use of dogs by local law enforcement to track problematic wildlife — such as bears, cougars and wolves — unless they receive explicit permission from the state.
While some see it as a critical step toward more responsible wildlife management, others argue it could undermine local authorities’ ability to address immediate safety concerns.
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Alaskans have grounds to sue over predator-control killing of bears, court rules
From AlaskaBeacon.com:
Alaskans who enjoy watching bears and other wildlife have legitimate grounds to sue the state over predator-control programs that may put those same animals at risk, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled on Friday.
The ruling reinstating a lawsuit, dismissed earlier by a Superior Court judge, that challenged a state program that is killing bears and wolves to try to boost a faltering Western Alaska caribou herd.
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Colorado “Mystery Wolf” Might Be From Wyoming
From CowboyStateDaily.com:
Fifteen wolves from Canada, have been spreading out across northwest Colorado after being released last month. There’s also reportedly another mystery wolf running around, although nobody is sure where it came from. It might be from Wyoming.
Click here for the full story.