Federal Court Orders Reconsideration of Gray Wolf Protections Across Western States

A federal judge in Montana has ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by removing federal protections for Western gray wolves, ordering the agency to reconsider its 2024 decision. The ruling emphasized that the agency failed to properly consider the species' historic range, population challenges, genetic diversity, and ongoing threats, relying instead on unfounded assumptions. While the decision does not immediately restore protections, it requires a reassessment consistent with science-based standards and best available evidence, affecting wolves in states including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington. Environmental groups hailed the ruling as a significant victory toward comprehensive wolf recovery across the West, criticizing aggressive state-led hunting and predator control programs. However, the ruling does not currently change the status of wolves in eastern Oregon, where they remain under state management with limited federal protection, reflecting ongoing tensions between conservation efforts and livestock interests. The Fish and Wildlife Service has 60 days to appeal the decision, while advocates continue to push for stronger federal protections amid political opposition in some states.